1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: A story in The Northern Territory News by Nathaniel Chambers 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: that the three time national Championship winning Darwin Salties have 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: been forced to withdraw from the National Wheelchair Basketball competition 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: as Basketball Northern Territory decides not to renew the license. Now, 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: the DBA was prompted to dissolve late last year following 6 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: findings from a Basketball Australia commissioned KPMG review. But what 7 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: this now means is that there is indeed on flowing 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: ramifications and joining us on the line is Tom O'Neill Thorne. 9 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 2: Now. 10 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: Tom's represented Australia at the Paralympics. He was the youngest 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 1: ever roller to compete in the World Championships when he 12 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: represented Australia in twenty fourteen, and of course we've interviewed 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: him before as a pivotal member of the salt Ees. 14 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Tom. I know well made it 15 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: sounds bloody terrible when I realized that this was happening. 16 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: I've felt really disappointed for you guys, especially on the 17 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: back of what have been incredible seasons. 18 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's been a pretty pretty wild and 19 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 2: emotional kind of twenty four hours taken this in but 20 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 2: I mean the support across like the local area and 21 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 2: indiant and around Australia has been incredible. But still obviously 22 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: processing all the emotions coming with this decision. 23 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: So, Tom, when did you learn that this was going 24 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: to be the case that the Salties wouldn't be taking 25 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: part in this year's. 26 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: Camp basically with everybody else when the Wilshi of Arspall 27 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: Australia kind of announced it yesterday morning. So again I 28 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: had heard that there was going to be a vote 29 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: about it the night before, but we didn't know what 30 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: that decision was. And honestly, all indications from you from 31 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: this takeover in November had been from Barcelona. The territory 32 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: to us had been that, you know, they were really 33 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: started to take on the team and we had to 34 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: kind of never really considered this as an outcome. Really, 35 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: you must be in. 36 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: A state of shock now, you know, in terms of 37 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: what sort of happens next for the for the likes 38 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 1: of you, for everybody else in the team. 39 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 2: One hundred percent, and still kind of dealing with what's 40 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: going to happen, not just from a playing perspective, but 41 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: you know, we kind of really build up this big 42 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: community aspect of the team. That was one of the 43 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: degrees in c J and I really wanted to push 44 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: for this team in the first place. Was not just 45 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: for us, but for young kids and other people with disability, 46 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: to give them opportunity in the community and find pathways 47 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 2: into elite parasport or even just be able to play 48 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: foot with their friends. And kind of team quickly taken 49 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:47,839 Speaker 2: away from us in the past twenty four hours, which 50 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: is yeah, again, still dealing with that unbelieva Yeah, definitely shock. 51 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: Well, and look, I've interviewed you before, I've interviewed CJ. 52 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: McCarthy grogan on the show before. You two are incredible athletes, 53 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: as are the whole team and and you know, like 54 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: I just sort of wonder what does it mean for 55 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: you guys as players, because presumably you're both you know, 56 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: you've been based here in the Northern Territory. Is it 57 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: going to me now that this group of you know, 58 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: of the lad athletes that we've got in the NT 59 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,679 Speaker 1: is going to have to look at going to another location? 60 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 2: I think so. 61 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:21,519 Speaker 1: Yeah. 62 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: And again, this is the whole point of this team 63 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 2: was being able to keep the local talent in the NT. 64 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: And we started having some good juniors coming through that 65 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 2: wouldn't have had the opportunities when we when we were 66 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: growing up, Like the Western ted Castle, I think is 67 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: part of the team made an Aslian junior team being 68 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: able to live in Darwen. Jalen Brown, who's originally from 69 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: Victoria and moved up to Darwin, you know, made a 70 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: Paralympic team coming from from Darwin. Uh. And yes, it's 71 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: just again I think we are going to have to 72 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: start looking at other teams and other locations. But again 73 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 2: I think it's still in the phase of you had 74 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: to fall out, no. 75 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: Doubt about it. Hey, has there been any indication from 76 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: you know, from Basketball Northern Territory why this decision was made. 77 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: No, honestly, we haven't heard anything from from Barstol Northern 78 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 2: Territory about it. I think I read something online from 79 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 2: an Aby News article just this morning that said that 80 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: it was with ever really a statement saying that it 81 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 2: was a financial decision they didn't want to take on 82 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 2: the risk, which I kind of questioned because we have 83 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: so much support locally from you know, from small businesses 84 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 2: to large instances to you know, the anti government here 85 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: with this team, so kind of question what the what 86 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 2: the financial risks are when we have such strong support 87 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 2: and I'm worry about how much effort actually went into 88 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: this decision. And yeah, yeah, I'm. 89 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: Still yeah Tom from a like from you know, a 90 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: player perspective for the likes of you and CJ. You know, 91 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: you guys are really experienced players and you've had some 92 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: incredible opportunity right around the world when it comes to 93 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: you basketball, What do you think that this move means 94 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: when you talk about that inclusivity and opportunity for territory 95 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: kids particularly you know, kids that are in a wheelchair, 96 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: you know, what does this move mean for them? 97 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, one of the one of the big 98 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: things that you know, Basket World and Territory said when 99 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: they were taking overdo in basketball was that this is 100 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: going to help fix you know, some of the problems, 101 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: which there were problems within basketball and the Northern Territory 102 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: and within Darwen. But you know, to me, this move 103 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: kind of feels a little bit like buelchair basketball isn't 104 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: basketballers and they don't see it see us as athletes 105 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 2: and important pieces of the community. So you know, I'm 106 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 2: really taking this, you know, personally into heart. Honestly, and 107 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 2: it feels like, you know, the the growth in Palentic 108 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 2: sporting in Darwin the past five years, six years has 109 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: been incredible and I do think that the salties were 110 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 2: a big part of that. And I honestly don't know 111 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 2: where we will go from here. Again, it's going to 112 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: be very hard, I think, to wheel into the court 113 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 2: and down basketball without feeling like, you know, we're not 114 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 2: we're not valued members of the community. 115 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: Well, mate, you are valued members of the community from 116 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: everybody's perspective, as you know, as far as I'm concerned, 117 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: you guys are unbelievable athletes. You know, Kathleen, my producer, 118 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: and I were talking about it just a short time ago. 119 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: The athleticism involved in wheelchair basketball is unbelievable, mate. You 120 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: guys are tough as nails. 121 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: Yeah. And again, like I'm really feeling the support across 122 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: the wider community of Darwen and again in Australia, like everybody, 123 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: I think everybody equally is shocked that because we felt 124 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 2: so welcomed and accepted and supported by Darwin and by 125 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 2: the MT And again it's just kind of reeling from 126 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 2: the decision. 127 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, I love sport and I love everything that 128 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: it represents and I love that, you know, it doesn't 129 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: matter where you're from, what your background is, that when 130 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: it comes to sport, you know, we all sort of 131 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: you know, we all take usually a really positive approach, 132 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: and you know, I feel really, I feel really badly 133 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: for you guys that this is the situation. I hope 134 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: that you know that Basketball Northern Territory do come out 135 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: and sort of give some some detail as to why 136 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: they have gone down this path and that there's some 137 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: answers for you guys. But I really hope that it 138 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: doesn't mean, you know, the end for for that inclusivity 139 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: when it comes to basketball in the NT. 140 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: Me too, I don't think it will. I think, you know, again, 141 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 2: we have such a strong community up but I think 142 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: we will, We will be able to push through this. 143 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: It's going to be probably a tough, a tough year 144 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: and being out of the league, but you know, with 145 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: the work that you know, CJ and I mean everybody 146 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: in the in the wider community does for Paralympic sport 147 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: and basketball specifically, I think I think there is a 148 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 2: way through it. Yeah, and we've just got to Obviously, 149 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: there's that territory toughness that we will want to fight 150 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: through absolutely. 151 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: Hey Tom, please keep us in the loop, as you know, 152 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: as some of those decisions do get made. I know 153 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: our listeners will want to know how you guys are 154 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: tracking as well, so please keep in contact with us. 155 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you coming on this morning. I know 156 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: it must be a difficult time for you guys, so 157 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: thank you so much for having a chat with me. 158 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for your support over over many 159 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 2: years and talking to me today about it. 160 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: Anytime, mate, anytime. Thank you so much. 161 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 2: Tom. 162 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you again soon.