Ethel Divers

Ethel Isabella Divers (formerly Helean, née Howard; 4 September 1915 – 28 May 2014) was a New Zealand netball player. She was a member of the New Zealand team in their first Test match, in 1938 against Australia.

Early life Divers was born Ethel Isabella Howard on 4 September 1915. She was educated at Waitaki Girls' High School in Oamaru,

Netball career

Domestic Howard played representative netball for Otago in 1936 and 1937, and was named in the South Island team. but the tour did not proceed. In 1938, she was once again selected for the New Zealand netball team, when a national side travelled to Australia and competed in the Australian interstate tournament in Melbourne.

Howard played in the single Test match, the first played between New Zealand and Australia, in Melbourne on 20 August 1938. New Zealand were defeated 11–40. The match was played under Australian rules.

Later life Howard worked as a school dental nurse. On 14 February 1944, she married William Brindley Helean at St Matthew's Church in Dunedin. William Helean served as a colonial administrator and public servant in East Africa.

Ethel Helean later remarried. She died in Dunedin on 28 May 2014, aged 98.