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Maningrida officially opens re-surfaced basketball court

20 September 2017

 

Maningrida celebrated the opening of the newly-resurfaced Maningrida community basketball court with a grand opening event on Friday, September 15. 
The community celebrated with music, competitions and a barbecue of locally caught fresh fish in support of the local fishing enterprise in Maningrida. 
Proudly supported by the Australian Government’s Prime Minister & Cabinet, the courts were officially opened by Traditional Owners Reggie Wurridjal and David Jones who took the first shots on the new courts.
The project was managed by Council's Sport and Recreation team in collaboration with Bawinanga's CDP and Maningrida College. 
CDP prepared the material cut-outs, priming and fitting of the new backboards and Maningrida College were in charge of backboard artwork designs and painting.
Students Laquisha Kentish, Chenelle Bading and Anyiss Watson led the backboard project on behalf of the school. During a speech at the opening event Laquisha described her colourful backboard design as being ‘inspired by country and culture’. Laquisha also said that ‘she was really proud of her work and was really happy to have her designs as the new basketball backboards’.

Over 150 people attended the launch and there was great applause when the backboards were finally revealed to the audience.  The scratch matches also went well into the night and it was an enjoyable and emotional day to see the fruits of our labour come together at this successful event.
Shaun Watson from the Maningrida Sport and Recreation team was also really happy to have the courts fixed. 
“It’s great that we can play again, I’m looking forward to the new basketball season,” he said.
Now that there is a safe venue for the community to play basketball the space will be of huge benefit to the community. Not only will Maningrida be able to re-establish its basketball league but all sorts of community-led events can take place at the revitalised venue. 
The new Maningrida Basketball League season will be starting soon. Registrations are now open for both the men’s and women’s competitions and registration forms can be collected from the main Council office. The new season will be beginning on Monday, October 9.