Wilma Shakespear

Wilma Joyce Shakespear (born 4 March 1943), previously known as Wilma Ritchie, is a former Australia netball international, Australia head coach and sports administrator. As a player, she represented Australia at the 1963 World Netball Championships, winning a gold medal. Shakespear coached Australia at the 1971, 1979 and 1987 World Netball Championships and at the 1989 World Games. Shakespear also served as head netball coach at the Australian Institute of Sport. Shakespear is married to Peter Shakespear, a former Australian rower.

In the 1992 Australia Day Honours, Shakespear was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "for service to sports, particularly netball." As a sports administrator she was the founding director of both the Queensland Academy of Sport and the English Institute of Sport. In 2010 she was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame.

Playing career As Wilma Ritchie, Shakespear represented Australia at the inaugural 1963 World Netball Championships winning a gold medal. She made seven senior appearances for Australia.

Coaching career Australia Shakespear coached Australia at the 1971, 1979 and 1987 World Netball Championships and at the 1989 World Games. Under Shakespear, Australia were gold medalists in 1971 and 1979 and silver medalists in 1987 and 1989.

Tournaments Place1971 World Netball Championships 1979 World Netball Championships 1987 World Netball Championships 1989 World Games

Australian Institute of Sport Between 1981 and 1990, Shakespear served as head coach at the Australian Institute of Sport. She was the first head coach of the AIS netball program.

Sports administrator

Honours Player Australia World Netball Championships Winners: 1963

Head coach Australia World Netball Championships Winners: 1971, 1979 Runners up: 1987 World Games Runners up: 1989 Individual Australian Netball Hall of Fame Inducted: 2010 Elevated to Legend: 2021