Game gets Fired up
TOWNSVILLE City Council has shown its faith in the region’s basketball talents after announcing two new funding programs.
The Townsville Fire will receive $ 55,000 to support their upcoming WNBL campaign along with a further $ 54,500 to back a program developing basketball stars of the future.
It has been a stellar year for the sport in Townsville with the Fire making the WNBL finals for the fifth- straight season while the Heat claimed their first men’s state league title in 17 years.
Local players have been the backbone of that success, with 12 Townsville juniors in the Heat’s 16- player squad this season.
Townsville deputy mayor Les Walker said the funding was a vote of confidence in those development pathways.
“The Fire were the first national team to bring home a title here to Townsville and we’re very proud to be part of the sponsorship team here to support local basketball as well,” Walker said.
“They’ve proven time and time again that they support the local talent here and bring them through those pathways to give them an opportunity to be part of the bigger picture of basketball here in Australia.
“That’s exciting and we see the future of basketball here in Townsville as very, very bright so we’ve invested wisely.”
Townsville Basketball general manager Greg Vanderjagt said the funding would allow them to support local juniors in achieving their basketball potential.
“We’re the pre- eminent association in Queensland in terms of fostering local talent and providing a pathway from junior to senior competition,” he said. “This funding is going to help our continued success in the community and provide a pathway for our junior players to aspire to.”
Fire general manager Richard Goodbody said the club was extremely appreciative of the support they had received from Townsville City Council.
“As the only national sporting club that carries the Townsville name across Australia, it’s an honour to represent our city on and off the court,” Goodbody said.
“We’re … proud of the role we play in providing positive, healthy, female role models.”