Former Tenterfield sports fanatic Damian Petrie – now relocated up the highway to Stanthorpe – is better known for his rugby league plays but he also has a fine basketball pedigree, and he’s keen to see the sport take off again in both Tenterfield and Stanthorpe.
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He is driving a new senior basketball club the Granite Belt Giants which, despite the name, he hopes to develop into a cross-border competition with teams from both towns participating. While the club had to nominate a home town when registering with Queensland Basketball, he foresees some matches being played back at Memorial Hall in Tenterfield, depending on the proportion of Tenterfield teams in the competition.
“Plenty of people are keen,” Petrie said.
“The Tenterfield competition just seem to peter out when Jason Ash left town.”
He said it’s a ‘bloody good sport’ which he and his siblings played in Tenterfield from childhood, with brother Anthony going on to become a Brisbane Bullet and play in the NBL. After a long hiatus Ash got basketball going again around a decade ago with annual carnivals, and now Petrie would like to see a competition that his own children can move into.
He said the response has been good so far, with boys in the year 11 and 12 and school-leaving age particularly keen, but he encourages girls to participate as well. He’d like to see four mens teams from Stanthorpe together with women’s teams, matched by similar participation from Tenterfield.
“But it’s the great unknown,” he said.
To gauge the level of interest he’s asking players to register online at granitebelt.basketball.net.au (or there’s a link on the club’s Facebook page). The registration fee is only $50 for 12 months, making it one of the more accessible sports. There will also be a couple of dollars a week for court hire, depending on how many players are involved.
The club’s having a meet-and-greet day next Thursday, March 9 at the Stanthorpe YMCA, and people can come along and ask questions and even register if they’re having difficulty with the online process. Petrie can also be contacted on 0421 555 987 with any queries.
He’s hoping to have a competition up and running in the next few weeks. The fixtures may have to extend beyond Thursday nights depending on the number of teams.
Players have to register as individuals but can form their own team or be placed in one.
