New Year Honours: Jodi Brown

Jodi Brown. Photo / Greg Bowker

Jodi Brown

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to netball.

As far as fairytale endings go, Jodi Brown didn't think it could get much better than what unfolded at Perth Arena on October 30.

The Silver Fern shooter wrapped up an international career that spanned 13 seasons with arguably her best performance in the black dress, producing a masterful display in the shooting circle to lead New Zealand to an 11-goal win over Australia.

But then a few weeks later a letter arrived in the post that was to provide a further high note.

"I was quite shocked and overwhelmed when I got the letter to inform me, it felt very special and I'm very honoured," said Brown on receiving the news she was to be made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

"It's come at a really cool time after just retiring a few months ago. You don't really play netball to get these awards but it does kind of make you reflect and go 'wow look what I've achieved in netball'."

Brown made her debut for New Zealand at just 22 in the Silver Ferns triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign. But after a gilded introduction to international netball, Brown's career followed an unusual trajectory. She defied the odds several times, firstly battling her way back from a knee injury that ruled her out of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on the eve of the opening ceremony. After stepping aside from international netball in 2007 to start a family, the mother of two then made a remarkable return to the Silver Ferns five years later.

Brown said while the Ferns failed in their ultimate goal of winning the World Cup this year, she'll look back fondly on her final season in the black dress.

"I think probably the best thing in 2015 was the way we came together as a team. We kind of re-sparked the Silver Ferns culture and environment and what we saw at the World Cup was only just the beginning of what is to come and I'm really proud of the way we were able to come through after that horrible [2014] season."