By LIAM TWOMEY
IN 2006, the Caroline Springs Basketball Club was born.
Through the hard work of club founder Dory Hall, the Blue Devils were established with one team of enthusiastic kids.
Unfortunately, Hall passed away after a battle with cancer in 2007 but his dream of bringing basketball to the community has lived on.
The club is now one of the fastest growing in the state and has around 500 registered junior members participating in its programs.
Blue Devils president Greg Beasley said the Blue Devils had come a long way.
“When Dory started the club it was just a team,” he said.
“We just wanted our kids to have an opportunity to play basketball. We ended up all moving to Caroline Springs and we started to progress with the team and getting settled in.
“We realised that there wasn’t any outlet for basketball. It was Dory’s dream to build a program.”
With numbers booming on the court, there is also plenty happening off it with the Blue Devils in the process of amalgamating with the Caroline Springs Basketball Association.
Beasley said the move was about trying to create better opportunities for kids playing basketball in Caroline Springs, something the club prides itself on.
“I think we have tried to demonstrate that first and foremost it is the kids that we are interested in and providing an outlet for them,” he said.
“We just have so many committed parents who are genuinely interested in the welfare of their community and a significant outlet for their kids to participate and be involved in not only basketball but general sport as a whole.
“It is just unbelievable how much it has all come in place. It is only going to get bigger and better.”
There are no plans to slow down at the Blue Devils will the club aiming to have junior and senior teams competing in the Big V basketball competition in the future.
Beasley said anyone in the community wishing to join was more than welcome and could find out information at the club website, http://www.csbluedevils.com.au/, or upcoming meet and greet day.
“We are having a community meet and greet day on December 15 at The Grange Park. That will be from 1.30pm until 4pm,” he said.
“It is an opportunity for all the members and all aspiring members to come down and meet everyone. It should be a fantastic day.”
