NETBALL: Long-time Warwick Netball Association secretary Linda Bunch is a finalist in the Netball Queensland Volunteer of the Year award.

She is one of three finalists and will be one of eight Warwick representatives at Saturday night's awards dinner at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Brisbane.

The other volunteer finalists are Joanne Aitken from Pine Rivers and South Coast official Belinda Webb.

Association patron Leanne Olsen rates Bunch a great chance to win the award.

"Linda is Warwick netball. She is involved in every facet of the association,” Olsen said.

"It is her umpiring and encouragement and coaching of junior umpires which is to the fore right now.

"If an umpire is needed and Linda is down to play a game, she often pulls out of playing so she can umpire.”

Bunch said it was a huge accolade to be a finalist for a Netball Queensland award.

"I was totally unaware I had been nominated,” she said.

"I have my suspicious about who were the officials and players behind the nomination and have three prime suspects.

"Seriously, I am thrilled, excited and at a loss for words which is not my usual style.”

Bunch first played junior netball at the age of 15 when her family moved from Karara to Warwick.

"I missed a couple of seasons soon after I left school as work commitments on a Saturday afternoon clashed with senior netball at Barnes Park,” she said.

Bunch has been secretary since 2006 after being predominately a player and umpire for the previous 20 years.

She estimates putting an average of 15 to 20 hours a week into the sport during winter and 10 hours a week in summer.

"I wouldn't be able to do it without the support of my husband Bruce,” she said.

"Bruce is supportive of my volunteer work for netball.

"I have so many wonderful memories thanks to netball and if I can help other people to gain similar lifelong memories and the life skills you get from netball, it is really pleasing.”

She has won a number of A-grade premierships with Doorslammers predominately playing as a goal shooter.

Bunch is a national C badge umpire which allows her to umpire at state events at junior and senior levels.