Former Champions Excited to Support Champion Team with New Partnership

By PSS | Posted: Wednesday March 28, 2018

Enliven has long been home to many former national sporting champions within its Southland rest homes and villages. Now, it is preparing to support its local national champion netball team in a new partnership with the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel.

Enliven Southland will be an Associate Partner of the Steel this season, with the partnership launching this week with a visit from Steel players to Peacehaven Village.

PSS Marketing and Communications Manager Shelley Erskine said aligning the Enliven brand with a high performing team that was so invested in its community was a great fit, and it also aligned well to the organisation’s core values of respect, community, family, compassion and accountability.

“We are really excited about the season ahead, which will present a number of opportunities for us to link together,” she said.

Enliven resident Jack Macdonald, 89, once won a New Zealand title in what was then the 100 yards freestyle swimming at the national championships in Wellington.

Living nearby the pool, he would train most days and competed across a number of strokes. Although his national title came in freestyle, he always preferred backstroke and competed in meets throughout the country in his high school days.

He said it had been great to meet members of the Southern Steel, and he wished them well for the season ahead.

Peacehaven Manager Karl Lamb had represented New Zealand in rodeo at the Kansas State Championships in the late 1980s.

He said both Enliven residents and staff were passionate supporters of sport.

“Residents were really excited when the Steel girls were in, there are certainly quite a few fans here. We’ve also got some very keen staff members who like to dress up and attend the games, so to have that extra connection and the Enliven name on the back of the Steel uniform, which will certainly boost the interest even further.”

Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel captain Wendy Frew said the Steel was looking forward to the new partnership.

“Some of our most passionate supporters are residents at Enliven homes and it's always fantastic to hear their thoughts. There's plenty of advice on offer and we respect that, especially given the sporting prowess of some in their own heyday."

"It was great to meet Jack and learn about his sporting achievements as a past national champion. It's always inspiring to meet other athletes and, while we might be a different generation, the fundamentals of sporting success - hard work, passion and dedication - never change."

Ms Erskine said the response from Enliven residents to the partnership had been fantastic.

“Not only have we found out more about former national champions who have chosen to make a home with Enliven, but there are also parents and grandparents of some southern sporting legends as well.”

“Everyone is excited about the Steel’s bid to defend its national title this season, and to have the Enliven brand right behind that in an official capacity, well we believe that’s a great fit.”