President: Lloyd Isaacson

Vice President: Andrew Preston

Secretary: Teresa Hodgetts

Committee members: Pearl Isaacson, Wayne Isaacson, Dave Klich, Kamryn Roberts and Tara Glasscock.

This year has been an exciting time for the centre and basketball, with a number of projects being completed or near completion.  The installation of the Big Ass fans has been a God Send for the up-coming summer.  The feedback I have received has been positive. The completion of the weather proofing was a job well done, with lots of volunteers giving a hand.

A big thank you to North West Cranes for the cherry pickers, Lead Smelter maintenance team and guys like Wayne, Owen, Craig, Andrew, Callum and many others. There were a lot of memorable moments which makes the exercise worth it.

Other projects completed were the digging of trenches and burying the poly pipe work, mowing the grounds (good times mowing in the dark), Scorer's bench, Benching in the bar, new fridges, 24 second clocks, marks on the court, refurbishment of the front office and completion of the drawings for the second court grandstands.

There were a lot of activities this year, of which I would like to mention a few.  The caravan park was an interesting time, having senior's graduation parties, successful grand finals, a fund raiser too for a new wheel chair and a number of other events.

This was the first year in which an operation manager was brought on board. The role has since grown into a successful position with Anita putting a lot of time and energy into making the centre and the sport a higher profile in the community.  The exiting of Isaskills from the centre will force Basketball to think more as a profit centre, to keep all the costs under control.  But it has opened a number of doors for new activities and other sports/events.

In October Eve joined as the games coordinator, who will bring more sports and events into the centre. With the new sports of Futsal, Volleyball and Table Tennis being introduced it is giving people a variety and two new sports to Mount Isa.

Basketball has always been my passion, since I was a small child. I believe it offers so many challenges that can be applied to real life, one being communication.  Committee work gives me great satisfaction when the team works together to achieve a successful season, it is never about the small wins, but the complete process of making it all work.  The most important thing that ensures the success this year has been the support of the committee and basketball members.  They have been through the tough times and enjoy the successes.  There have been so many people who have give time and energy to improve th sports that I would like to thank but that would be a long meeting.  They know who they are, from giving an hour to score or working in the bar/canteen or refereeing night after night. I thank you from my heart for giving the sport your time which has helped it grow.

The future is unwritten and everyone has a chance to make a difference. I believe it's not about how much time you put in, it's "Can I make a difference?"

I see 2013 being a year where the sport stabilizes and development is the focus.  There are never new problems, just old ones that keep coming around.  Referees will be a huge challenge next year with a number of referees moving on.  This problem can be overcome with some commitment and passion to develop a program to support the people who are interested.

Another area that needs to be addressed is the Junior competition which hasn't been successful this year.  It has been one thing, I wish had been successful, but it requires a lot of support from seniors.  When you talk to other main sports such as Netball and Soccer, which has a membership of over 300 kids, it isn't about not enough people but the commitment from a larger group of basketballer's to make it happen.  I would recommend the new committe look at running the competition as a 3 on 3, which has been successful on the coast.

In closing I would like to pass on to the new committee to think big and aim high. If you don't reach it, then you will still have travelled a long way.

Yours in sport

Lloyd Isaacson - President 2012.

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