ON JUNE 18, the Jamaica Netball Association celebrates its 40th anniversary and based on its achievements and the champions it has produced, it should be an occasion to remember.

Over the years, netball has developed into the country's biggest female sport and as far as performance on the world stage is concerned, as a team sport it boasts a record second to none.

The football team, for example, has been to the World Cup finals and deserves to be toasted for that wonderful achievement. The netball team, however, now ranked number five following its performance at the last World tournament in 1995, has finished in the top six in each of the 10 World tournaments and was number three in 1991.

That is no mean achievement and on top of that, in players like Hermoine Edmondson (goal shooter), Grace Beckford (centre, wing attack), and Joy Grant (Charles, centre, wing attack), Patricia McDonald (goal shooter), Connie Francis (goal attack) and Oberon Pitterson (goal defence), it has, like the country's cricket, produced some of the best players in the world.

The 40th anniversary celebration will take the form of a banquet and according to president Molly Rhone - who, as Molly daCosta, was herself an outstanding player, the occasion will be used, not only to toast the champions of today but also to remember those of yesterday.

Today's champions include not only McDonald, Francis and Pitterson, but also others like Georgia Gordon and Nadine Bryan and those of yesterday, the pioneers which come quickly to mind, include not only Edmondson, Beckford and Grant, but also Valerie Fleming (now Webster), Sonia Thompson, Barbara Buckley (now Jones), Ouida Golding (now Beecher), Monica Brown (now Mendes), and, of course, Vilma Beecher (now McDonald).

Netball today would not be what it is without some outstanding administrators and its past presidents - Margaret Beckford, Leila Robinson, Fay Mills, Buckley-Jones, Vilma McDonald and Avril Crawford - will also be toasted for their glorious contribution to a sport which is now played by thousands of girls and young women around the country, a sport which has provided enjoyment for so many and a sport which brought so much glory to Jamaica.

The JNA will also be honouring all the players who have represented Jamaica at the World tournament, and it is also certain to say many thanks to successful national coach Maureen Hall and to many of its benefactors over the years.

The 11th World tournament takes place in New Zealand in September, and apart from being a fitting salute to netball and a memorable occasion, the banquet could also inspire Jamaica's representatives to their best ever performance against the world's best.

In 1995, Jamaica finished right behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England. Recently, in a two-match series against New Zealand, they drew one and lost one and in a three-match contest against South Africa, they won all three.

With a little luck in New Zealand, it could really be a 40th anniversary to remember.