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Hawkesbury Jets taking off
by Penny Webb
The Hawkesbury Jets Senior Girls
Development Squad have the home
of basketball in their sights and are
busily fundraising to get them to the
United States of America in 2016.
The goal is to raise nearly
$100,000 for 18 players and coach
Peter Lewis to get on a plane and
take part in a basketball tour playing
against local teams and learning
more about the sport in the States.
While $100,000 is a lofty amount,
U16 Rep Team Manager and US
Trip Co-ordinator Melissa Newbould
believes it’s absolutely achievable
thanks to the girls’ enthusiasm for
raising funds.
“Already we have held barbecues
at Bunnings, the girls have been
selling raffle tickets at Riverview
Shopping Centre and we’ve had a
chocolate drive too,’ Melissa says.
“We are helping them raise money
but a lot of it is the girls’ ideas and
hard work that is paying off. They’re
actually the ones doing all the work.”
While one of the main objectives
is to get the team to the United
States, Melissa and Peter and the
Hawkesbury District Basketball
Association are also keen for the girls
to understand what can be achieved
when positivity and enthusiasm
combine with hard work to reach a
goal.
They are also keen to raise
awareness of basketball in the
Hawkesbury.
The Senior Girls Development
Team are part of a strategy the
Hawkesbury District Basketball
Association are working on to
encourage more local females into
taking up the sport.
“Three of our senior girls coach
our younger Hoopsters group which
is a mixed group from ages 5 to 12.
We also have some of our group
coaching the U12 and U14 teams now
too,” Melissa explains.
“The younger girls really look up
to them and I can see it building the
confidence of the senior girls that are
involved.”
Zara from the U16 rep team is
one of the players who coaches a
younger team.
“We enjoy helping to coach and
run some of the sessions with the
younger players. It is a great way to
build team spirit and give back to the
club,” Zara says.
The board, coaches and managers
at the Hawkesbury District Basketball
Association see firsthand the positive
impact playing sport, in particular
basketball, has on
busy young lives.
“It’s such a lovely
environment here
at the stadium. Very
family-oriented,”
Melissa says.
“The girls play
together in rep teams
and squad and while
they’re still fiercely
competitive in their
own teams, they
help each other up
and have a laugh
when they’re playing
opposite each other.”
“There is a great
sense of camaraderie.” The 2014 U16 Rep Team
The next big
fundraising event is a trivia night
trip to the United States.
to be held at Bligh Park on the 4th
“Not only are the girls learning
of July. The organising committee
that if they work hard they can
are looking for local businesses and
achieve a goal, but they’re also
organisations to help out with prizes,
learning a whole new set of skills
donations and vouchers for the event. when they work there!” says Melissa.
Already local businesses have
been supporting the girls achieve
For more information about
their goal with Vivo I Do Hair in
buying tickets or supporting the
Windsor employing a team member
trivia night contact the Hawkesbury
from the squad to work at the salon
District Basketball Association on
every Saturday morning.
4587 8105. If you’re keen to sign up
Any money earned by the girls
to play basketball head to www.
goes straight into their kitty for the
hawkesburybasketball.com
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