In 1997 local Hurstbridge residents and basketball fanatics Peter Trask and Jeff Lyon saw the potential for a basketball team/club to be formed from the endless amount of talent in the Hurstbridge area. So, in November of '97 Peter and Jeff sought interest from local players, and as a consequence entered two teams, an U12 Girls and an U10 Boys into the Diamond Valley Basketball Association (DVBA) competition. The teams played their first game in February '98 as the Hurstbridge Rustlers. This was the beginning of the Hurstbridge Basketball Club.

A small committee was formed over the Christmas break:

Peter Trask President

Jeff Lyon Vice President

Jenny Trask Treasurer

Gary Milne Secretary

Glyniss Austin Committee Member

Gale Pohl Committee Member

Tom Pohl Committee Member

 

   

 Jeff Lyon                                                   Peter Trask

 

The first uniform was designed by a local supplier and consisted of white singlets with yellow and burgundy panels, and burgundy shorts with white and burgundy panels.

 

Old Uniform

During the first season the name of the basketball club was often discussed at the Committee Meetings. It was consequently changed to the Hurstbridge Hurricanes Basketball Club. After about 18 months the current logo took shape and was incorporated onto all official paperwork.

The members of the founding two teams were:

Boys U10                                   Girls U12

                            Travis Butler                             Jessica Austin

Rowan Clayton                         Maddison Caulfield

Dale Lyon                                Amy Faulkner

Nick Milne                                Victoria Gosstray

Evan Pedic                               Tegan Hemming

Callum Pohl                              Rebecca Ritchies

Lachlan Trask                           Carly Tilley

Lucas Walsh                             Jessica Trask

In 2006 the Committee decided to upgrade the uniform. Players and parents were asked to submit ideas and designs. After much deliberation, a set of uniforms were made and trialled at the Ballarat Basketball Tournament of June 2006. They drew admiration from not only our own players, but from our opposition teams and the referees. A Trivia Night was organised to help pay for the new uniforms. They were officially introduced to all teams in January 2007. Many thanks needs to be extended to Nina Galatopoulos who took on this massive project. Our uniform remains one of the most unique in Victoria.

New Uniform

The Club has grown at an amazing rate since its inception and we now (2017) have 27 junior teams (19 boys, 8 girls), making us one of the larger clubs playing in the Diamond Valley competition. We also have 3 open age men's and 2 women's teams currently playing.

As the Club has grown, we have had some great success stories. It wasn't long before we would win premierships in both the girls and boys competitions. The Club has also produced some great players, such as Luke Deylen, who was the first player to represent Victoria in the under 16 National Championships. We also had Kristian Williams who captained the Victorian State Under 18 Boys Team. We also currently have many players playing for the Diamond Valley Eagles in both boys and girls competitions.

 

We also need to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the following people during the Club's first years:

Terry Stephens- coaching junior boys, Committee Member.

Jeff Lyon - boys & girls coaching, Club President.

Trevor Lee- coaching senior boys.

Trish Faulkner- coaching boys & girls, Club President.

Marlena Kinvig- numerous committee jobs,including tournament organisation.

  

During our 20 year history we have had only 6 Presidents:

 

Peter Trask             1998 - 2000

Jeff Lyon                 2001 - 2004

Trish Faulkner         2005 - 2008

Paul Riggs               2009 - 2011

Sonia Cuthbert         2012 - 2015

Kayleen Jones          2015 - present

 

  

Trish Faulkner                                 Paul Riggs 

                  

                                      Sonia Cuthbert                 Kayleen Chatfield-Jones

The Hurstbridge Hurricanes Basketball Club continues to grow by drawing players from not only Hurstbridge, but from all around the local district. The Club continues to exist only through the hard work and dedication of the organising Committee, Coaches and Team Managers, all of whom are volunteers.

 

Click here to view the honour Board of the Club's Executive Members