The Basketball Community using Social Media as a vehicle has rallied in typical, yet still inspirational fashion in the wake of the flooding that has torn through Central and South-East Queensland.

Bundaberg Basketball, Brisbane Basketball and Ipswich Basketball stadiums were all engulfed by water, at stages flooding above the 10ft ring level inside the stadium themselves, leaving a trail of devastation behind it. The dedicated volunteers were able to take as much as they could to higher ground prior to being engulfed yet playing surfaces and fixtures had to take the brunt of the weather that destroyed thousands of homes and left thousands more without shelter and power for several days.

Volunteers from each of these Associations, coordinated by the respective Board and Administrations have pulled together to produce an amazing effort in cleaning and attempting to save precious floorboards. People who had experienced personal loss, still found the strength to exemplify what the community spirit of Basketball in Queensland represents by pulling together for the greater good and spearheading the charge.

Bundaberg was the first scene of the damage, with pictures surfacing of some players with a sense of humour attempting to take some shots, hip deep in water. The water has since subsided and the cleanup process beginning, with the weekend seeing a substantial ‘working bee’ formed to clean and salvage. The Gladstone and Rockhampton communities were also inundated but extremely fortunate to not suffer significant damage to their venues. Toowoomba, Kingaroy and the Academy affiliates were hit hard as a community although the stadium themselves were very fortunately spared. Our hearts go out to all the families in those regions that were devastated by the flash flooding that engulfed them.

Administrators at Brisbane and Ipswich are awaiting feedback from Assessors as to the extent of the damage but hope to have courts available for Competitions in the near future. Schools in the surrounding areas have generously offered their courts to act as an interim home for basketball until the stadiums themselves are back up and running at capacity.

With Australia Day on the horizon, the dedication and commitment of the volunteers throughout the basketball community has demonstrated what it truly means to be an Australian, a Queenslander and a Basketballer.