Life Members

To increase the visibility of the zone pathway, the talent development programme was refreshed, and connection established with the development coordinators at centres. They played an important part in helping Netball South identify talent for development programmes at various tournaments. Netball South had a record number of players make the Netball New Zealand development camp in Ashburton with several putting their hand up for NZ Secondary School trials. Netball South puts significant time and energy into the preparation of these players for these camps, so we were delighted to see how well prepared and competitive they were. VOP survey feedback continues to emphasise how important player development programmes are for members. In 2022 we will work even more closely with centres to help local programmes get off the ground. The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel welcomed five new young exciting players at the induction of the 2021 ANZ Premiership pre-season. Retaining our experienced coaching and management team led by Reinga Bloxham was key to a highperformance environment that brought out the best in these players. Not fancied by the commentators after a six game-six loss pre-season record, this young team shocked many with an 18-goal win in their first-round robin game against The Trident Homes Tactix. It was an exciting beginning to a heart-stopping season that saw the team win 10 of their 14 round robin games and hosting the Elimination Final in Invercargill. Three Steel players went on to be selected for the Silver Ferns while English player George Fisher was selected for the Roses. This team has a very special culture captured in the fresh new design of its dress and brought to life by the players. Since the establishment of Netball South nine years ago, one of the strategic goals of the zone has been the financial sustainability of not only Netball South but the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel as an independent entity. This was under significant pressure in 2021. In the aftermath of 2020 our most significant funder, the ILT, alerted the sporting community as a whole that funding in the following year would be halved. This alert occurred three months ahead of our preparation of the 2021 operating budget and was vital to our ability to prepare for the coming financial year. When one stream falters, it is a sign of organisational resilience if others are able to pick up the load. At first ticket sales were bleak when membership sales dropped by 29% as long-term loyal members opted not to return after the Ticket Rocket debacle of 2020. Fortunately, thanks to some clever marketing, casual sales were stronger than normal, particularly toward to end of the season, offsetting the impact of reduced membership sales. The heroes for revenue however were our commercial partners. It is quite special to have an increase in sponsorship cash of 24% from new and existing partners the year after a Covid-impacted 2020. Our family of sponsors held strong in 2021 while new partners were welcomed. While these revenue streams played their part, our staff worked incredibly hard to keep a lid on costs and make ends meet. We ended the financial year with a $7,000 surplus for Netball South and a breakeven, small positive surplus of $485 for the Southern Steel. We are very proud of this financial result and wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff of Netball South for working so hard to operate within our means. As we farewelled Paul Buckner, Kerry Seymour and Colin Weatherall from the Netball South Board in March 2021, we were pleased to be joined by Noelene Scott, elected director from South Otago, and Jackie Barron, the NNZ representative replacing Colin Weatherall, from Dunedin. Existing appointed director Dean Johnston moved into the role of Chairman. During the 2021 AGM we will be very sad to see the retirement of elected director, Adrienne Ensor from the Board after nine years of exemplary service to the Zone. Like Paul and Kerry before her, Adrienne has exhausted the constitution’s maximum limit of three terms of three years. Adrienne’s wisdom and vast knowledge of the game at both grassroots and governance levels will be sorely missed. Likewise, having served the Board for nine years, appointed director, Alastair Mckenzie also steps down. As previous Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk subcommittee Alastair’s commercial focus was a strength for the Board. We wish Alastair and Adrienne all the best.

In 2021, one of our great Dunedin Netball Centre volunteer legends, Colleen Lyons, was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to netball and education in July’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Colleen has given generously of her time and energy for decades fulfilling every role possible from umpire to coach, secretary to Board member and this recognition of her contribution was richly deserved.

It’s been a 14-year high octane journey for Sonya Fleming, Netball South’s Event Manager. On 24 July 2021, she reached an outstanding milestone of 100 games she has presided over as Event Manager, making magic happen across both the ANZ Championship and Premiership for loyal Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel fans and partners. It was a fantastic occasion to see Sonya’s achievement recognised and we are hugely grateful for the masterclass expertise she has amassed and perpetual passion she brings to her work every day.

Netball South thanks the volunteers and staff at the centres for their passion and commitment to the game, and the Steel family of funders, commercial partners and fans for their unwavering support. And a big well done to the Netball South staff and Board for a great year of hard work and success.