Netball legend Dame Lois: 'MY OWN HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE'

Cancer's a game-changer, but it was no match for our beloved Silver Fern

- Kelly Bertrand

She's the first dame of New Zealand netball - a remarkable and passionate figure who still, at the grand age of 88, will absolutely talk your ear off about all things netball.

But while life has taken on a slightly slower pace for Dame Lois Muir since a second battle with breast cancer, come hell or high water, she'll be tuning in to every single minute of the Silver Ferns' fight to defend their Netball World Cup crown this month.

"I had breast cancer about 25 years ago and the wretched stuff came back and got me again last year," Lois - she will not have you call her Dame Lois tells the Weekly. "I only had one boob to lose, so that's gone now. But I've recovered and I'm bouncing around. Well, bouncing's probably a bit too far! But all is well."

She quickly dismisses any ounce of pity or concern "Oh, I'm absolutely fine, no fuss!" and apart from being a little bit wearier of catching bugs, life is as it's always been.

"You never think you're smart with cancer," she adds. "I always dread when I hear someone say 'I'm cured'. But it's all in how you handle it.

"The surgeon was great and even me, at 86 or something, I went in on a Friday and was at home on the Sunday. I didn't even have time to feel sorry for myself, so that was good.

"My mother and my sister both had breast cancer, so because of that, I got it early the first time and decided to get the whole breast off - no mucking around, you know so anyway, here I am!"

Still living independently in her beloved Dunedin home, Lois is still whip smart and refreshingly forthright. A widow for the past 19 years, the mum-of-three sons keeps herself busy - she only stopped working at the local pharmacy just before Covid and relishes a good chat about netball.

"I played my first-ever national tournament in 1949," she reflects before adding, "Hmmm. That probably dates me a little bit, doesn't it? Just a smidge.