Hi Willetton Basketball Community,

Purpose of this correspondence is to provide our key stakeholders with an update on WBA operations and immediate changes to staffing levels as a result of the recent stadium closures due to the Covid-19 virus.

The WBA board met last week with a primary focus of developing and implementing a survival strategy for our association during this unprecedented time in the world.

The paramount focus in the interim is to put measures in place to ensure that WBA will remain financially viable through this period of instability and our other focus in on being able to be in a position to resume normal operations of the stadium ASAP upon the stadium being re-opened and be able to welcome the community back into the new Willetton Stadium.

We accept our responsibility to play our part in trying to “normalise” the community with the reactivation of our basketball activities ASAP once we are allowed to re-open.

As a result of the steps taken to ensure the association’s survival strategy, the board has put into place the following plan in relation to staffing levels;

• WBA employees who are responsible for the administration of finances, competitions, and operations of the stadium and the cafe will all be on a combination of annual then unpaid leave as of 27/3/20 until the date of stadium resumption.

• All WBA casual staff have been stood down from their positions until the date of stadium resumption.

• Talent & Coaching Manager Luke Sunderland has had his employment reduced to 3 days per week whilst also on a combination of annual leave and unpaid leave. Luke will be working on a flexible arrangement during this time and will liaise with domestic and WABL coaches, clubs and players online to share and discuss basketball playing and coaching content, I encourage all coaches and domestic clubs to liaise with Luke via email lsunderland@willettontigers.com.au; mobile: 0437 814 423 so as he can add your to distribution lists for his content during this time.

• My employment has been reduced to 3 days per week during this time and I will be working on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday’s whilst also on a combination of annual and unpaid leave.

• Due to current restrictions around travel and social distancing both Luke and I will be mainly working from home in the present time with infrequent visits to the stadium, however will both be contactable via mobile and email if and when required to contact.

• The WBA board will continue to meet regularly as well as any other time required as a means of continuing to monitor the survival strategy in place against prevailing developments with Covid-19.

Myself and the WBA board will continue to monitor the current Coronavirus crisis closely and remain in regular contact with our state sporting body, our federal and local government members for updates pertaining to indoor sporting facilities. The latest information we have in relation to this will be shared with all key stakeholders of WBA but I encourage anyone seeking further information to give me a call on the above mentioned working days.

In the meantime, as a priority I will be working on plans to recommence all stadium operations when that time comes - to the extent we can under the current constraints.

Lastly and more importantly may I wish you all the very best of health and please look after yourselves and your families during this time and I can’t wait to see you all back and enjoying our new stadium sooner rather than later.

Mark Winnett - WBA CEO