The long hours and hard work put in by volunteers at Macedon Ranges Basketball Association have been recognised by Basketball Victoria.
The association was named the Keith Wilson Small Association of the Year for 2015 at Basketball Victoria’s Country Awards on April 2.
Association president Megan Condron said the award represented three years’ hard work by volunteers.
“We’ve come a long way in the last three years; it’s been a journey,” she said.
“We have more than doubled local participation in the sport, and our juniors now have a range of development pathways open to them – both in country Victoria and through the Sunbury basketball competition.
“Woodend and Macedon Ranges are literally shooting above their average,” she said.
This year, the MRBA won the under-18 boys division 2 basketball championship as well as the under-12 girls division championship. Condron said the link between the association and Gisborne Bulldogs and Riddells Creek basketball associations had also been a key to the development of their association.
Among highlights in recent years for the association has been going from having two to 25 accredited coaches, and having Woodend as a satellite training location for the regional academy program.
Junior player Nick Grantham is representing Vic Country at the under-18 state championships this week. Condron said the next step was to expand even more.
“We’re at a tipping point … we have to start advocating for more courts so we can continue to grow,” she said.
“It’s necessary for Woodend and the Macedon Ranges. We’re starting to turn some kids away, which is very heartbreaking.”
Basketball Victoria Country manager David Huxtable said, “we were impressed with how much the MRBA have achieved in the past three years – particularly with just one basketball court available in Woodend.
“They are a great example to small basketball associations across Victoria.”
