Pembroke Primary School captains Olivia and Patrick with, from left, Kilsyth Basketball development manager Ben Turner, ANZ Boronia Local Market chief executive Gary Conner, South Dragons coach Shane Heal and Kilsyth Basketball recruit Brad Bridgewater.By Paul Pickering
AUSTRALIAN basketball legend Shane Heal returned to Kilsyth Basketball Stadium last week to celebrate the continued success of the hugely popular Kids First program, evoking memories of the many hours he spent at the complex as a youngster growing up in Seville.
The current playing-coach of the National Basketball League’s South Dragons was on hand for the announcement of a second $10,000 contribution from the ANZ Boronia Local Market towards the program – which aims to create a future of physical and financial fitness among school children.
The Kids First program, a joint initiative of Kilsyth Basketball and ANZ, has seen nearly 9000 students participate in basketball clinics in 2007, as well as 1000 prep students receiving basketballs and four schools being involved in ‘financial fitness’ sessions.
Gary Conner, chief executive of the ANZ Boronia Local Market, said the funding injection would ensure that the program thrived in 2008.
While acknowledging the important physical fitness component of the program, Mr Conner was keen to note the program’s objective to “reach out to young students and help them have a greater understanding of money – including going back to basics – and help them save for their future”.
Kilsyth Basketball’s development manager Ben Turner added that the support of the South Dragons and Heal – who played in the Kilsyth After School Basketball Competition as a kid – was a major positive for the Kids First program.
For more information on how to get involved in the program, call Kilsyth Basketball on 9728 1033 or visit www.kilsythbasketball.com.au.
