Netball: Happy to be a woman of Steel

Southern Steel communications manager Kate Buchanan at her Invercargill office. Photo by Dianne...
Southern Steel communications manager Kate Buchanan at her Invercargill office. Photo by Dianne Manson.

In many ways, Kate Buchanan is the heart and soul of the Southern Steel netball team - even more so than superstar shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid. She has a fancy title (corporate and communications manager) but no airs and graces. She is also the only ''PR person'' Hayden Meikle would ever consider featuring in this series. He catches up with his former netball-writing rival ahead of the derby with the Tactix on Monday night.

Hayden Meikle: How long since you were the one being interviewed?

Kate Buchanan: It's definitely a rare occurrence. I am far more comfortable holding the pen and paper.

HM: In a nutshell, what does your job entail?

KB: It now encompasses marketing, sponsorship, communications, social media, player appearances and membership. And I love it.

HM: Who's the funniest player in the Steel?

KB: Stacey Peeters - always entertaining, often without even knowing it. Her laugh - which by her own admission can range from a giggle to a chuckle to a loud cackle - is definitely infectious.

HM: Who's got the best nickname?

KB: When you have unique names like Storm and Phoenix in the team, who needs nicknames? If I had to pick one, though, J-Dawg [Jhaniele Fowler-Reid] rocks hers with some trademark Jamaican sass.

HM: Casting aside all bias, where do you think the Steel will finish up this year?

KB: That's like asking the Mad Butcher to bet against the Warriors. I honestly believe this team has the ability to topple any other. Janine Southby invested a lot of faith in some of New Zealand's brightest young talents and we are now starting to reap the rewards. The vast majority of our squad have only ever played for Steel in the ANZ Championship and have come through the ranks. They have earned their time.

HM: Will Jhaniele stay?

KB: When Jhaniele arrived in Invercargill in 2013, I prayed the sun would be shining so she didn't get straight back on a plane to Jamaica. I needn't have worried. She has adapted to life here extremely well and is such an integral part of our Steel family, both on and off the court. Her daughter Drehannah even started school in Invercargill this season and I believe they are well-supported and happy here. Does that translate into future years with our franchise? Only time will tell but I certainly hope so. I'm tempted to hide her passport ...

HM: When did you work at the Southland Times and what was your highlight there?

KB: I started as a stringer for the Times in 1994, covering local tennis at the weekend. I used to pedal my bike to the various courts around town as I didn't even have a driver's licence. I always wanted to be a police reporter, actually, so my passion for sports journalism was only sparked in 1996. I was assigned to cover the Southland netball team at the national championships in Hamilton - a tad daunting for the 5ft [1.52m] girl who had never played a game in her life. I was employed fulltime after graduating and wrote a front page story on my first day in the office about a talented young netballer by the name of Donna Loffhagen signing for Southland. When I reflect on the magnificent Sting era, covering events like the America's Cup and the amazingly talented sportspeople I've had the pleasure to interview over the years, it surprises me that a career highlight doesn't actually involve sport. September 11, 2001. I remember the phone at my flat ringing at 3am as CNN reporter Peter Arnett returned my call from New York. The last Western journalist to interview Osama Bin Laden in a remote cave in hills of Afghanistan, Arnett was adamant the extremist was behind the Twin Towers terror. He was one of the first on record to point the finger at Bin Laden. Capturing a unique angle and Arnett's first-hand encounter with Bin Laden resulted in my story running in major newspapers throughout New Zealand.

HM: When did you join the Steel?

KB: I was contracted as media manager during the inaugural season in 2008 and continued in the role until 2011 when I accepted the marketing position.

HM: How has netball changed since those early days?

KB: Money, money, money. The arrival of the semi-professional era has changed the netball environment considerably. And don't get me wrong - compared with our male counterparts, we're talking more loose change than mega-bucks. The demands on players have increased dramatically; stakeholders and fans have greater expectations and you could say it's a new ball-game. I find that hugely exciting for our sport.

HM: Is it hard sometimes to get sponsorship and media attention, compared with something like rugby?

KB: Ask me this question again in 10 years and I hope my answer will be different - but I suspect not. Unfortunately, the quest for a level playing field for women's sport is an ongoing battle. But I am confident more sponsors will realise the benefits of aligning with women's sports teams like the Steel. Economic girl power or ''She-conomy'' is here. Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases and are twice as likely to recall brand retention than men. Most importantly, women are not only buyers, but influencers. Let's face it, only a brave man would buy a boat without talking to his wife first.

HM: Is there still the same level of netball fever in Southland as there was in the Sting days?

KB: We are blessed with one of the most parochial and passionate fan bases in New Zealand and that's what I love about Steel country. It's not the same as it was in the Sting days and we can't expect it to be, given what a unique time that was. Our mission now is for the Steel to create its own legacy - not try to emulate its predecessors.

HM: Do you still hear people lamenting the loss of the Otago Rebels, or is it just your old mate?

KB: We started the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel franchise by bringing together two legendary teams and their fan bases - the Sting and the Rebels. After years of rivalry, we are now united and stronger as one. (Let it go, Hayden.)

HM: What do you like to do away from netball?

KB: It's the simple things - family and friends. Quality time with both is always at the top of my list.

HM: How old are the kids? Are the rest of the family keen supporters of the Steel or are they too busy with things like motorbiking?

KB: My daughter Mikah is about to turn 12 and is already taller than me. She's an absolute gem. My son Cormac is 8 and a-half and has definitely inherited his father's passion for motorbikes. He loves racing speedway and won the Southland championships at Oreti Park earlier this year.

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