The Just Better Care Wollongong Roller Hawks say there’s never been a better time for women and girls to take up wheelchair basketball with the upcoming Wheelchair Basketball Illawarra Festival and a recent federal government grant key factors in the push for an all-female squad in the Illawarra.

 

“Having a women’s team has been on my radar for several years,” said Roller Hawks club president Geoff Adams.

“Navigating through COVID and the resurrection of the national league has taken up a lot of everyone’s attention but we’re starting to bring together the pieces we need to have an all-female squad. We just need the players!”

Illawarra Wheelchair Basketball which oversees the Roller Hawks, was recently awarded a Federal Government grant through the Play Our Way Program which will help the club purchase new wheelchairs as well as a hoist that can assist people into a chair if required.

“The best thing about these new chairs is they are fully customisable. The height, width, wheels, foot plates can all be adjusted,” said Adams.

“It means female players can come and try the sport and they’re not just having to make do with an older chair from an ex-Roller Hawk who used it day in, day out.”

“Having to play in a chair that isn’t the right size for you is like playing able bodied basketball in shoes that are three sizes too small or too big, you’re not going to have a lot of fun.”

“Having this kind of investment in women’s sports and para-sport is so important so that when someone does try the sport, they have the right equipment that suits their body type and are comfortable from the get-go.”

“The Play Our Way Grants are designed to help women participate in sport around the community,” said Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes.

“There has been $260 million worth of applications for just $55 million dollars so the program has been massively oversubscribed and that’s why I’m so proud that our local wheelchair basketball association has been able to get $50,000 to help encourage more women into wheelchair basketball.”

“I really want to thank the Federal Government for this grant and Brian Gardner who not only applied for the grant but will order the chairs and help customise them to the needs of those who use them,” added Adams.

Opportunities to play are also vital in growing the female game and this weekend the Wheelchair Basketball Illawarra Festival features a women’s division for the very first time.

The Wheelchair Basketball Illawarra Festival is co-delivered by Illawarra Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT. The festival runs over five days, including Masters, 3x3 and the Slam Down Under tournament which caters for Div 1 and 2, along with a junior division.

“Wheelchair basketball is fairly unique in the way it can allow for female players to play in mixed competition. Players like Hannah Dodd are great examples of that,” said Adams.

“But having all female competitions is also really important, because not every female player wants to play against the boys. Female players made up 25% of last year's festival and that number has increased to 30% this year so we’re hoping to attract even more female players from around the state and beyond to come and play in future.”

In a bid to attract more female players to the local ranks, Illawarra Wheelchair Basketball will be holding a come and try session during the festival on Saturday from 12:35pm at Illawarra Sports Stadium, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to watch some of the action then have a go themselves.

“A lot of people see the Roller Hawks who are so fast and so skillful and maybe they think I could never do that, but you’re comparing yourself to the highest level. There are so many opportunities to play at all different levels, and particularly for beginners.”

“There’ll be a range of different levels on show this weekend so hopefully people will see it and say, hey I can do that, let me try.”

“The best part is you don’t even have to have a disability let alone be in a wheelchair to play. Able-bodied people play all the time, it’s a great sport.”

“Currently we have our beginner squad, our development squad and our Roller Hawks squad. I’d really like to see an all-female squad that can train together, play together and eventually take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities there are to play against other female teams.”

“Who knows, maybe one day we can have a home grown women’s national league team as well!”

 

Wheelchair Basketball Illawarra Festival - 30th Oct - 2nd Nov

Wednesday: Masters from 7pm at Shellharbour City Stadium

Thursday: Masters from 7pm at Shellharbour City Stadium

Friday: 3x3 from 6:30pm at Illawarra Sports Stadium, Berkeley.

Saturday: Slam Down Under (Mens, Womens, Juniors) all day at Illawarra Sports Stadium, Berkeley.

Sunday: Slam Down Under (Mens, Womens, Juniors) including finals, all day at Illawarra Sports Stadium, Berkeley. Trophy presentation at 3pm