A basket of fun at court’s official opening
• Jasmine Graham shoots over the top of her brother Tyler during one of the games at the official opening of the Bridport basketball court.
October 11, 2023
More than 100 people turned out in Sunday’s spring sunshine to enjoy the official opening of the Bridport half-court basketball facility.
Dozens of children enjoyed a fun afternoon of competition on the court, facilitated by the North East Junior Basketball Union.
The community facility was developed by the Lions Club of Bridport after a conversation nearly a decade ago, Lions President Ann Maree O’Keefe said.
“Nine years ago, when my two grandchildren, Jemma and Mitchell, were in grade five and six, their mum and my daughter Rebecca Blair suggested to me that the ‘tweens’ of Bridport needed a Half-Court Basketball Court,” she said.
“I brought this idea to a meeting of our Lions Club who began looking into the prospect of this as a worthwhile project.”
Mrs O’Keefe said Bridport Primary School children showed a very keen interest in having a basketball area and so the club purchased a backboard and ring which was temporarily installed down by the Bridport Boat Ramp. This was later relocated to the Lions Adventure Playground on a 3 x 3 metre cement slab.
“The Lions Club of Bridport recognised the need for a bigger facility and worked hard in collaboration with our North-East community to build a Half-Court Basketball Court which offers a top-class facility for a wide age group of both children and adults living in the area and visitors to Bridport.”
Dorset Council General Manager John Marik helped cut the ribbon to open the facility, which he said was testament to
“one of the most active Lions Clubs in Tasmania”.
“The Lions Club of Bridport’s charitable work is so important for the community. From raising money, to the provision of services, delivering projects and helping to bring the community together,” Mr Marik said.
“In relation to this project, the Lions Club of Bridport consulted widely with a survey of the North-East community receiving 100% support for the building of an outdoor basketball court.
“The club put forward a very compelling business case to Dorset Council, with Council committing financial support under a Matching Funds Grant to improve the liveability of Bridport and the foreshore, with the aim of improving this public space for local families and visitors alike.”
President Ann Maree O’Keefe said the project would not have been possible without the financial support from Dorset Council, Bridport Innovations, FC Management – Mathew & Shannon Bayles, Tasmanian Lions Foundation, Australian Lions Foundation, PJ & LA Bingley Builders and the Bridport Textile Group.
The opening saw a number of friends and families form teams to compete in friendly competition under the watchful eyes of referees Scott and Hamish Auton, while Launceston Tornadoes Coach Sarah Veale was in attendance with two of her charges, who took to the court in a match between the older children there on the day.
The winners received vouchers from Good Sports Scottsdale.