SPORT

Young basketballers enjoying the recent Maccas On Your Team camp in Hobart

Hoop dreams for local youngsters

ASPIRING young local hoopers had access to the state’s best basketball minds during this school holiday period, with Basketball Tasmania once again partnering with the Maccas On Your Team program to deliver a series of camps in Hobart, Devonport and Launceston.

Children born between 2009 and 2014 were invited to attend the camp at Warrane Sports Centre from 11-14 October, where they could develop their skills and receive coaching from Basketball Tasmania’s high-performance athletes and development staff.

Basketball is thriving in Tasmania following the JackJumpers’ successful inaugural season in the National Basketball League, leading to recordbreaking participation levels across the state.

Tasmanian state teams are achieving their best results in history, and Tassie players are being selected to represent Australia at world events.

Basketball Tasmania chief executive Ben Smith said the Maccas On Your Team camps are an excellent pathway into the state’s Future Developmental Program.

“There’s enormous interest in basketball in Tasmania, with our national teams and players having success here and overseas,” he said.

“There is no better way to spend the school holidays than hanging out with some friends and shooting some hoops. Combine this with high-quality accredited coaching from some of Tasmania’s finest upcoming coaches, and you’ve got a recipe for fun.

“We’ve identified over 50 emerging basketball talents through the Maccas On Your Team camps who are now on the talent development pathway, and we hope to find many more young athletes to join them.”

Players celebrate their success at the Tasmanian Nepalese Cricket Association Super6 Awards presentation night

Nepalese cricketers’ big bash

THE Tasmanian Nepalese Cricket Association (TNCA) recently held its 2022 awards ceremony at the Multicultural Hub in Moonah.

The Dashain Super Six Cricket Tournament Awards Presentation 2022 celebrated the inaugural event held on 1-2 October, which featured the Gurkha Legends A and B, Kathmandu Warriors, Moonlight Cricket Club, Capital Cricket Club and Naya Cricket Club.

The top performers of the tournament were also celebrated, with Kira Pandey named Player of the Series. Govind Karki won Best Batsman; Raju Poudel was named Best Bowler; and Sunder Kandel took home the Maximum Sixes award.

Local Liberal Member for Clark Elise Archer has been a long-term supporter and sponsor of the Tasmanian Nepalese Cricket Association.

“Tasmania is a culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse state and the game of cricket is popular in our Nepalese community, with increased interest over recent years,” Ms Archer said.

“I commend the organisers for pursuing their dream of socially integrating our culturally diverse communities through sport and cricket in particular, and for staging this successful event again this year.

“It has been my absolute pleasure to be involved in supporting Nepalese cricket, knowing how important it is for people to connect with and support each other.”

Member for Clark Elise Archer and Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas at the Glenorchy City Bowls Club for the opening of the new season

Bowls season begins

LAWN bowlers across the Glenorchy area have greeted the new year of competition with great enthusiasm and excitement, holding events recently to mark the opening of the 2022/23 season.

Bowls is a very popular sport for all ages and provides important mental, physical and social contact for a large number of people in the community, with memberships increasing across the state.

Many bowls clubs provide both competitive and social bowling programs, like barefoot bowls in the summer months. Clubs facilities are also used by the community for everything from weddings to corporate events.

Local Liberal Member for Clark Elise Archer, who has helped local bowls clubs secure funding for artificial greens that can be used all year round, recently attended season openings at the Claremont Bowls and Community Club, Glenorchy Rodman Bowls Club and Glenorchy City Bowls and Community Club.

“As a sponsor and Patron of many bowls clubs, I understand the importance of supporting the significant community service, both as a sporting club and as a social outlet, that these clubs provide in our community,” she said.

“Clubs provide a place for social connection and inclusion, which we all know is beneficial for the wellbeing of individuals and communities, making them more active, healthy and resilient.

“This new season is a great opportunity to reconnect with our many bowls clubs and move forward after a period of closure due to the pandemic.

“At the same time, we still need to be mindful of the very important need to protect vulnerable members of our community, and our bowls clubs have adapted well with the support of our Government’s grants to assist with COVID measures.

“It is wonderful they can now be back in the fresh air, playing the game that they love.”

To find out more about bowls in Tasmania or bowls clubs in your area, phone Bowls Tasmania on 0447 722 128 or email exec@bowlstasmania. com.au

A REAL GAME CHANGER

Eh ler Tha, Tha Dah Shay, Sera Lalagavesi, Furdosa Abafita and Brutukan Melkamu at the My Game Changer launch

THE Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) and Clubs Tasmania have joined forces to encourage community sports clubs to ‘think differently’ and increase cultural diversity and inclusion.

The MRC Tas has co-designed the MY Game Changer - Sport Inclusion Training program with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, in consultation with community sporting stakeholders.

The program, which was officially launched at Swisherr Hoops Academy recently, aims to support clubs to embrace cultural diversity and create a welcoming environment for all.

Training will be delivered by young people from refugee backgrounds employed by MRC Tasmania, who are passionate about sport and supporting their community.

MRC Tas program officer Brutukan Melkamu said MY Game Changer will help to bring further cultural awareness to sporting clubs in Tasmania and make migrant communities feel more connected.

“We are really excited to be working with the Clubs Tasmania to build capacity of the sector and link newly arrived young people to organised sport where they feel safe, welcome and counted,” she said.

“Sport and recreation build confidence and support wellbeing for young people, but can also play a significant role in supporting new Tasmanians, young and old, to settle in and connect to the Tasmanian community.”

Clubs Tasmania will support MRC Tas to deliver the MY Game Changer training program to clubs who sign on.

Having experience as a president of several different sporting clubs, Clubs Tasmania CEO Steve Old understands the importance of making everyone feel welcome.

“Clubs Tasmania is proud to partner with any organisation which strives to boost inclusivity and provide friendly, welcome surroundings,” Mr Old said.

“People from refugee and migrant backgrounds can offer so much, and giving them an environment to shine and showcase their skills and flair is what this partnership is about.

“No-one is better placed to design and implement programs for these young people than the Migrant Resource Centre, and our role at Clubs Tasmania is linking them to sporting clubs eager to embrace cultural diversity.”

To find out more about the training go to myt.org.au or email youth@mrctas. org.au

Tha Dah Shay, MRC Program Officer Brutukan Melkamu, Eh ler Tha, Basketball Tasmania General Manager South Gareth Allen, Clubs Tasmania CEO Steve Old and Clubs Tasmania Project Manager Tom Darke at Swisherr Hoops

We’re helping to prevent bushfires around the state

With bushfire season fast approaching, TasNetworks and our authorised contractors will be entering properties across Tasmania over the coming weeks, to clear trees growing too close to TasNetworks-owned powerlines. If you see trees growing too close to powerlines, please report them to TasNetworks by visiting tasnetworks.com.au or by calling 1300 137 008.