Long time servant of the Ringwood Basketball Association, Brian Roberts was made a Life Member of the Association at the recent AGM.

In recognising his contribution, RBA President Tim Mottin said "Brian has been a stalwart of the Club approaching thirty consecutive years.
Brian has held many roles in that time, having served on the Management Committee for several years including the role of Secretary. He assisted many people in the Club in many ways during some difficult times.

Brian has always been willing to offer sound advice on management and operational issues and was a keen advocate for greater recognition and promotion of our domestic referees. He is still actively involved in refereeing at the stadium, and of course has managed our BigV scorebench for several years. Brian also looks after external venues for VJBL on Friday nights. He is someone who has always been there to do jobs when perhaps others would just talk about them.

There is no-one in the Club that is, or ever has been, in the Club for as long as Brian. He is a wonderful representative of basketball, score bench officials, the club, husband, father and person."

Mottin went on to speak about Damien Smith, receipient of the RBA Founders Award, saying "Damien came up through the Hawks program as a junior (well over 20 years ago). As a promising junior he was brought into the Hawks senior squad as a teen. In 1999, Damo was actually a starter (and genuine contributor) in the Hawks first Championship team. I think he was 19 at the time.

Damien was also one of the first of the Hawks juniors to play college basketball in the USA - providing encouragement to others to start what is now a well trodden pathway. It was a match harder task back in 2000.

Damien played a number of senior seasons with the Hawks before he needed to move to Ballarat to undertake his teaching degree. He continued playing SEABL and BigV during that time. In 2006, Damien returned to the Ringwood Hawks as a player. And an exceptional one at that. Damien was an excellent point guard and a great team mate (his stats will back all of this up).

Damien started coaching with Kenny in 2011. But very often pulled on the jersey both in games and at training. He did and continues to do everything that is needed of him by the team.

Damien didn't obtain Life membership via 300 games played at Ringwood because he decided to further his education and play basketball at a very high level, and went to college in the USA instead. But his contribution has been immense as player and coach which has culminated in 5 Championships .

I would be happy that argue that, as a junior and senior player on the court, and now as a coach, and over a vast period of time at the highest level at the club, that there is no one more deserving of such recognition."

As a result elections held at the AGM, Kath Miles was elected to the position of Secretary and Mark Sutton to the position of Vice President, while Ken Harrington, Adrian Fittolani and Amanda Brincat were elected to the Committee of Management. In announcing the results of the elections, Tim Mottin acknowledged the contribution of retiring office bearers, Michelle Stringer, Lawrence Meehan, Jenny Port and Rae Noller.