INTERNATIONAL Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) president Molly Rhone will receive the country’s fourth highest national honour, joining four other sporting personalities who will also be honoured at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony at Kings House today.

Rhone, who is the only Jamaican to head an international sporting body, has led the world governing body of netball since 2003 and is the association’s longest serving president.

She will receive the Order of Jamaica, for services locally and internationally in Sports Administration, in particular netball.

Rhone also headed the local body, the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), from 1993 until 2003 and represented the country in World Netball Championships (WNC) in 1967 and 1975.

“It is a great honour. As I always say, when we serve we don’t serve to be recognised; we serve out of the love and out of the passion and we do appreciate it when we are recognised,” she said ahead of today’s presentation.

“Wherever I am, whatever I am, and whatever I’m involved in, I should make a difference. If I haven’t made a difference, then I ought not to have been there,” she added.

This is the third national honour for Rhone who has previously received the Order of Distinction and the Commander of Distinction.

Former Real Mona player Peter Moses will also receive the Order of Jamaica for his contribution to the private and public sectors and community development — sports in particular.

Reverend Dr Ephraim Morgan will receive the Commander of Distinction for his outstanding contribution to Education, Sports and Community Development, while John Green and Raymond Harvey will both receive the Order of Distinction.

Green, who is practically an institution in the football community in Clarendon, will be rewarded for contribution to Sports and Community Development, while Harvey will be awarded for exemplary Community Service in the area of sports, in particular track and field.

“It’s nice to be recognised for what you’ve tried to do,” Harvey, who has been involved in the sport at the national level since 1962, told the Observer.

Harvey, who attended the University of Nebraska in the United States, added that it was through his involvement in the sport that he was able to achieve what he had.

“I received a great benefit from track and field. I would not have gone to university if not for an athletic scholarship, so I want to give back and let other athletes know that (they) can be enhanced by giving back,” he said.

— CMC, Observer