More than 30 years as a coach guiding Otago and New Zealand athletes to the world stage and spending the past 10 years as Athletics New Zealand high performance programme para lead will have that effect.
Helping people has always been one of Bates’ overriding passions, and on the eve of her fifth Paralympics, that desire remains.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times from Paris, Bates said it was a "huge privilege" to lead the New Zealand team through their time in Paris.
"It’s a huge honour, absolute huge honour," Bates said.
"Very exciting. A lot of the athletes [I] have been right through their campaigns with them, done three, four, five campaigns, so I’ve actually been on that journey with them as well.
"It’s pretty cool."
That journey of seeing athletes grow in their chosen sport, and as people, was close to her heart.
"It’s like anybody: you see them grow as a person, you see them mature. Some of them from young teenagers into adults, so it’s a journey.
"To see them grow within their sport is one thing, but to see them grow within their whole life as adults is another.
"Again, it’s being able to ride that wave with them as well and be part of their pathway."
New Zealand has a 25-strong team at the Paralympics, which start with the opening ceremony tomorrow morning, and on paper they look the goods.
Seasoned campaigners such as shooter Michael Johnson, swimmer Cameron Leslie, runner Will Stedman, thrower Holly Robinson and long jumper Anna Grimaldi will lead the way.
Eleven athletes will make their Paralympic debuts, including shooter Neelam O’Neill, table tennis player Matthew Britz and equestrian rider Louise Duncan.
"Every team’s got their debutants, every team’s got the seasoned campaigners and this team’s no different," Bates said.
"It’s cool to be able to share these pinnacle events with those athletes when you know how hard they work, you’ve worked alongside them."
"When you’re passionate about sport, it doesn’t matter whether it’s athletics, or swimming, or gymnastics, or whatever it might be, you just become immersed in it and you like to help people.
"If you can make a small contribution towards helping them fulfil their dreams and their goals, well then, you’ve done your job.
"I get a lot of satisfaction out of being able to help people."
Seeing local Otago athletes Grimaldi and Robinson again reach the elite level was exciting.
The support they received from the Otago community was "unique", Bates said.
"I think the further south you go, it becomes very personalised.
"The whole community, they’re extremely proud.
"They also feel like they’ve contributed towards that — which they have, they absolutely have.
"There’s a lot of pride within communities."
