Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (10:33:37) — Today I would like to congratulate Craigieburn Basketball Association member Brian Mott, who was recently honoured by Basketball Victoria for 50 years of service to the sport. Brian started playing basketball in Bendigo as a child and since then has been involved with basketball at North Fawkner, Coburg and Craigieburn. Brian is someone who has lived and breathed basketball for almost his entire life as a player, coach, team manager, referee and mentor. He started coaching at 15, before becoming a referee, and had a playing career of around 50 years before knee injuries changed his focus to administration roles.

Brian joined the Craigieburn Basketball Association in the late 1970s and has been a member ever since. He was a foundation member of the association, and unsurprisingly he is recognised as a life member. As a player, coach and administrator he was instrumental in the formation of junior and senior representative squads. His life member citation says:

In the early years Brian was classified as one of the top junior basketball coaches in Victoria and very handy guard in our senior squads. Brian has not only coached our junior squads, but has also been in charge of both our men’s and women’s representative squads at various times. Brian has been an inspiration to many of Craigieburn’s coaches for many years and will be for many more.

I am sure that Brian has inspired not only the coaches but also the players, refs, team managers and administrators. He is a great asset to the Craigieburn Basketball Association and to basketball in this state. Well done, Brian, and congratulations on this terrific honour.