Posted on 20 April, 2011

Kilsyth and Mountain Districts Basketball Association are proud and delighted to congratulate Errol Kennedy and Gavin Meager on their 15 Year Bronze Service Awards to Basketball and to Jackie Lee who was named as the 2010 Basketball Victoria Domestic Coach of the Year.

Gavin has been a long time coach and volunteer with the Kilsyth Cobras, Sandringham Sabres and Eltham Wildcats Basketball Clubs, he has served on the Kilsyth Cobras committee for many years as well as acting as the clubs delegate with the SEABL and Big V. Gavin has also served as a junior representative coach for over 10 years with Kilsyth.

Errol has been actively involved in basketball since his children started playing Junior basketball in 1990,  Since that time Errol has coached at domestic and representative levels, and served as both a club and association official. Errol’s desire to foster a love of all aspects of basketball in players, his dedication to coaching, and his sense of fair play and is admired by all who know him.

Jackie Lee has been an active domestic coach within the Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association for more than 20 years, her involvement with the St Edmunds Basketball Club (SEBC Saints) has been a major part of her life since 1986. Jackie is a prime example of what makes clubs work, she has been a passionate and committed volunteer not only as a coach but as a coordinator which has seen the Club grow to over 720 players. Jackie regularly coaches four to six teams per season depending on the number of coaches required and which teams need assistance.

Jackie’s role has also involved mentoring other young coaches and running a development program for new participants in the Lilydale Area. Despite her coaching talents Jackie has never moved up to the representative program, rather she has chosen to continue developing players at the domestic level. This commitment to her domestic club exemplifies the passion Jackie has for the sport. Many of her players now actively play in the Cobras VJBL and SEABL teams.

SEBC Saints Committee Member Don Morelli was complimentary of Jackie’s commitment, ‘her wealth of basketball experience, knowledge and care has benefitted so many players over the years. Jackie has coached boys and girls at all levels but predominantly works with the younger age groups to provide them with solid skill grounding for the future”.

K&MDBA’s Vice President Helen Harris believes the award could not have gone to a more deserving person “Jackie does everything; she is currently coaching 5 boys teams and more often than not has success”.

“You could not find more variance, knowledge or patience in any coach, overall Jackie Lee is a complete coach”, Helen concluded.

Jackie Lee was surprised but extremely proud to receive her award “I was surprised but honoured to receive the Domestic Coaches Award. I feel humble, but at the same time incredibly proud, too. I would like to thank Kilsyth Basketball Association for their recognition of my efforts towards domestic basketball coaching”.

K&MDBA would like to congratulate Jackie, Errol and Gavin on their awards; all three deserve the accolades bestowed on them, Kilsyth is lucky to have the passion and support that they bring to Basketball and the association.