June Baudinet is an all-rounder sportswomen, she has been involved in Athletics, Tennis and Netball just to name a few. June started competing at the age of 6, running the sprint against adult’s right till she was 30, she competed in the 100m and 200m, and for many years was the Rarotonga and Cook Islands Champion. June Baudinet was part of the team that instigated the setup and formation of the Rarotonga Athletics Association.
As June’s talents were noted in Athletics, Percy Henderson and Father George (Catholic Priest) decided to coach June and prepare her for
competitions, (1950 – 1960). In 1960, June with her two friends Ritia (Toko) Hosking and Tere Pureau in Titikaveka won majority of the women’s sprint events at the Kumete Sports. They won all events 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Teanua Kamana (Papa Dan) made the comments that these 3 girls beat all the men on Rarotonga.
In 1961 while June was schooling in New Zealand and after two weeks at the Wairarapa College, she managed to achieve high performances, and was noted as the overall female Athletic Champion.
On Junes return she was selected at one of the athletes to represent the Cook Islands at the 1967 South Pacific Games which were held in
New Caledonia, June competed in the sprints, however due to the lay over in American Samoa, she and Kau Pupa missed the start of their race. 1974 saw June as Coach for the Cook Islands Athletics Team to the Tahiti Games.
Tennis, June’s favourite sport, beat most players and preferred to play singles. Had all the wrong technique until she started being coached at the age of 31, as she grow to love the sport of Tennis, she could no longer concentrate on Athletics, so she decided to stick to Tennis. A delegate to Tennis Cook Islands Executive Board for several years, since 1971, from 1992 – 1998 June was elected as President of Tennis Cook Islands. June was the Team Manager at the 1999 and 2005 Pacific Games held in Guam and Palau. Started up the Junior Tennis Development Program with Brian Baudinet in the early 1980, Malcolm Kajer one of our earlier junior players and now the National Coach Tennis Coach is continuing with the development of this program and doing a great job keeping the Junior Tennis alive.
Tennis was a sport that the whole of Rarotonga competed yearly in village competitions, both men and women teams were pretty strong and June recall’s how there was a rush to the Tennis courts every day, play was stopped when the ball could not be seen due to the darkness.
One of the memorable moments for June is when she took her son Brett Baudinet (16 years) to the first World Youth Games in Moscow 1998. There she saw the best of the World Youth at Sport and of course Russia’s top woman Tennis player (today) Maria Sharapova who was 14 years at the time came to practice with Brett. Brett was embarrassed first that he was practicing with a girl until she hit the ball at 100 miles an hour. Secondly as Brett’s Manager when Brett won the Gold Medal at the Palau 2005 South Pacific Mini Games.
A few years ago June Baudinet received an award from the International Tennis Federation for her long service and support to the sport of Tennis within the Cook Islands and Region, over 30 years. Today, asthma has taken away the sport she loved, so it’s walking, swimming and watching son and grandchildren carry on where she left off.
As a young lady since primary school, June played Netball again another favourite sport, she played all positions but I loved being the goal shooter. Coached Titikaveka club in the 70’s, Tereora College when Teaching at Tereora 1967 – 1977. Could have represented the Cook Islands Team to the South Pacific Games but was only allowed to compete in one sport which she thought was all nonsense.
Went with the Golden Oldies Netball team to NZ, Australia, Canada and Singapore. In 2000 had to give up playing, even in the Golden Oldies, as asthma took over and the best of her health.
Last Modified on 15/01/2011 06:30