Basketballers shoot for courts
YOUNG athletes want better indoor sports facilities in Wonthaggi.
Shadow Sports Minister Damian Drum and Bass MLA Brian Paynter visited the Wonthaggi basketball court recently to learn their concerns.
The court at Wonthaggi North Primary School is home to the Wonthaggi Coasters – the Under 14 girls’ basketball team who won the Victorian Country Championships against all odds.
Wonthaggi Basketball Association president Ross Bramley is hoping to use the Coasters’ star performance to campaign for better facilities.
The association borrows courts from education and community groups, but no courts are the legal size for competition.
Mr Bramley has won key backing from Mr Paynter, who has had detailed discussions with the association and Bass Coast Shire Council.
Mr Paynter, a keen sportsman, said he was focused on achieving better sports facilities in the region.
Mr Drum encouraged the community to push ahead with plans to address Wonthaggi’s needs.
“Having better facilities would make a huge difference for the Coasters by allowing them to train and compete on proper facilities and allow them, in turn, to host important contests,” Mr Drum said.
“At a time when we want to be encouraging more people into sport, the Andrews Labor Government needs to be helping out clubs like the Coasters.”
Mr Drum said the previous Coalition Government’s community facilities funding program had called for applications particularly to improve facilities for women in sport.
“I am concerned Daniel Andrews has fumbled the ball with this. We spent $138 million in four years on community sports. The Andrews Labor Government plans to spend just $100 million in four years – a cut of $38 million – and has earmarked just 10 per cent of that specifically for female sport,” he said.
“Brian Paynter tells me there is an enormous number of talented sports men and women coming from his area – including the Coasters – but many will achieve their full potential only with the support of the community, council and the Andrews Labor Government.”
Facility upgrade required: from left, Bass MLA Brian Paynter and Shadow Sport Minister Damian Drum visit the Wonthaggi basketball court with Wonthaggi Basketball Association president Ross Bramley. A larger facility is needed to promote basketball – and other sports – in the area.
Short URL: /?p=15360
Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Jun 30 2015. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
