One of Basketball Mount Gambier’s young achievers and valued contributors, Felicity Clayton, is moving to Adelaide at the end of this month after establishing herself as an outstanding and committed member of the local community.

Felicity began her involvement with basketball in 2007, moving up to representing Mount Gambier in the Lakers Under 12 Girls team and then into the Cougars Club in 2013 as a player at junior and senior levels.

After recovering from an long break from active sport because of surgery, Felicity concluded her Junior Lakers’ career as a member of the SA Country Under 18 Women’s Division 1 Champion team in 2017.

Felicity has had a positive impact across the spectrum of basketball as a coach and umpire as well as a player. Her commitment and dedication to give back to this sport mark her efforts in coaching and refereeing. She started coaching in 2015 at Junior and Junior Women levels. Her ability to pass on knowledge and to relate well to younger players made her a respected and popular coach. Her development as a coach is reflected in her appointment as a Junior Lakers Coach last year.    

Year 2011 was the beginning of an impressive career in the field of umpiring for Felicity. She graduated through the Green Shirts program to junior Division 1 competitions and currently to the SECBL Men’s and Women’s League. Her personal “unflappable” attribute and quiet strength of character, along with her drive to improve through hard work to gain experience and become qualified are features of her career in umpiring. Her achievements include winning the Easson Family Referee Encouragement Award.

Felicity has also been active in referee programs including assisting beginner umpires, supervising referees at Tournaments and officiating at Tournaments and SA Country Championships. She is planning to continue umpiring in Adelaide in future.

Although young in years, Felicity has contributed significantly to local basketball programs and has set a fine example for young members to follow. Locals will miss her vibrant and active involvement as she looks forward to continuing her development as a referee in the metropolitan area.