Yesterday was a big day for the new Southern Steel captain.
Kate Heffernan was honoured as the Silver Ferns player of the year at the Netball New Zealand Awards last night.
She won the inaugural Sandra Edge Medal for last year, when she was named midcourter of the Netball World Cup.
Defender Kelly Jackson (nee Jury) was the big winner of the night, securing her second consecutive — and first outright win after sharing the honour with Grace Nweke last year — Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award.
There were 22 awards presented across the evening — national, domestic, secondary school, men’s, officials and volunteers.
Karin Burger was named Silver Ferns fan favourite, rising defender Carys Stythe won aspiring Silver Fern and Ameliaranne Ekenasio won Te Tuaka Rau, the Silver Ferns players’ award.
Dynamic Pulse midcourter Maddy Gordon won the Casey Kopua MVP as the ANZ Premiership player of the year, and Mystics coach Tia Winikerei won the Robyn Broughton Trophy for coach of the year.
Mystics midcourter Peta Toeava won Te Rau Mataaho, the ANZ Premiership players’ award.
Northern Stars defender Lisa Putt was named national league player of the year, and Central Manawa coach Ngarama Milner-Olsen won national league coach of the year.
ANZ Premiership umpire of the year went to Gareth Fowler and Natasha Lake, of Central Otago, was named volunteer administrator of the year.
Retired Silver Ferns Bailey Mes and Claire Kersten were presented with the players’ association service award.