Wednesday, 19 June 2024

 Lee TARLAMIS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:03): Basketball is a fantastic way for young people to stay active while teaching them invaluable life skills. That is why I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Casey Basketball Association for their achievements and the opportunities they provide to younger people in our community. Recently the association’s hard work has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including CEO Tammy Bower receiving the Victorian Jack Carter Memorial Award for Administrator of the Year, Mia Wilson being recognised as Basketball Athlete of the Year with an Intellectual Disability and Sitaya Fagan being recognised as Female Junior Player of the Year. But that is not all. The association has also been recognised as Basketball Victoria Association of the Year and Victorian Junior Basketball League Large Association of the Year. This recognition is testament to their outstanding success on and off the court throughout 2023 and could not have been achieved without the tireless work and dedication of passionate volunteers, who are truly something special.

This success continued in 2024 with the association hosting 200 teams from across the state in multiple age groups and divisions to compete in the largest three-by-three tournament in Australia. Additionally, for the first time in Casey basketball history, a record eight of their junior teams recently participated in the 2024 National Junior Classic, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the country. All teams performed well, with the under-14s being crowned national champions after winning the grand final and the remaining under-17s finishing in the top eight of their age groups.

This association is committed to growing grassroots basketball and increasing participation levels, particularly among female players, with their efforts yielding an impressive 42.4 per cent increase over the past two years. The association has now surpassed 10,000 members. A massive congratulations to the Casey Basketball Association for continuing to deliver positive outcomes for our youth. Your passion, commitment and dedication are an inspiration, and you should be so proud of your achievements.