Irene McInnes

In her early life, Black was known as Rene. She was born in Victoria, Australia, to Blanche Ann Black (née Ireland) and Robert Sheriff Black. She had three siblings: two brothers, one of whom was Gerald Ireland Black; and one sister, Gladys Muriel Black. Following the death of her mother, her father remarried Helen MacKenzie and fathered three more children: Helen MacKenzie Black, Elizabeth Ann Black and Robert Sheriff Black, Irene's half-sisters and brother.^[3]

McInnes attended Christchurch Teachers Training College from 1912 to 1914 and passed university courses in math, inorganic chemistry, geology, French and physics as part of her teacher training. Just before the start of the First World War, she qualified as a science teacher.^[3]

She worked during the war at Waitati Primary School in Blueskin Bay, and later at Columba College as the mathematics and science mistress. During this time she was an active member of the YMCA.^[3]

McInnes was the first president of the NZBBA, and was also the first Life Member.^[3] Mcinnes strongly believed netball was critical for the health and well-being of girls, particularly as women's roles began to change after the war. She had a deep commitment to girls' wellbeing and wanted to create opportunities and improve the quality of life of women.^[4][5] She was also interested in standardising rules in New Zealand and served as a referee and as Vice-President of the Referees Association.^[6][2]

In 1919, she married Ralph Saxelby McInnes in Dunedin and they had three daughters: Edith Irene, Blanche Alice and Alison Mary; and one son, Paul Black McInnes.^[7][2]