Otago wing defence/goal defence Elva Simpson was the only mother when selected for the Silver Ferns Netball World Cup team of 1963 where she made her international debut as a 26-year-old.

Playing alongside Lois Muir at provincial level, Simpson was an honest and hard-working defender.

Brought up in the traditional Otago defenders’ mould at the time of hard toil, graft and grind stood Simpson in good stead for her role at the tournament.