Zoe Moffatt
Lesley Thomas has been lauded for her 46 years of service to the Sunbury Basketball Association.
Ms Thomas, who is the association’s vice president and a life member, was presented with three awards on Sunday, March 26, when the association had its first senior home game of the season.
She was presented with the 2022 Big V Volunteer of the Year Award, a match day ball for refereeing, and recognition of her 46 years of service to the association.
Ms Thomas said she was surprised and honoured to receive the awards.
“I knew I was getting the Big V award but that’s all I thought it was,” she said.
Ms Thomas said she has been involved with basketball since she was 13 and is very proud to see the game expanding.
“I just get a whole lot of enjoyment out of it,” she said.
“The highlight for me is going to a stadium and seeing all the kids playing [basketball]. I think we’re doing something right, keeping the kids off the streets and getting them [involved].”
Ms Thomas said she had to play against adults when she started as a teenager because there was no junior competition.
“I started playing at the Royal Melbourne showgrounds in the dog pavilion,” she said.
“There were no juniors comps so I played against adults from the start.”
