1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: But as some of you may be aware, over the 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: course of the weekend, we do know that the Northern 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,040 Speaker 1: Territory Sports Awards were held and they recognized the outstanding 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:14,239 Speaker 1: achievements of Territory athletes, coaches, sporting officials and volunteers. And 5 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: the winner of the Northern Territory Volunteer of the Year 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: for her work in basketball is Donna Hurst and she 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: joins me on the line right now. Good morning, Donna. 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 2: Good morning Takie. How are you really well? 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. Donna. What made 10 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: you decide to get involved in basketball? 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 2: Well, do you want to go back that side? I 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 2: was back in nineteen eighty three when I was working 13 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 2: at the Museum and Night Galleries of the Northern Territory, YEP. 14 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 2: And there was the two of us there wanted two 15 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: play basketball, so putting a menngine women's team, and from 16 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: there we just grew. So we were called the Museum 17 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: Eagles back then. And then as we grew and pit 18 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: players came to us who weren't working with them, we 19 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 2: just changed it to Egors YEP. And this year we grew. 20 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 2: We had thirty two teams in the competition. 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: Wow, So Donna, thirty seven years? Have you been involved 22 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: in basketball that whole time? 23 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 2: I've been the secretary of the club for thirty seven years. 24 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: You are a legend. That's amazing. 25 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 2: It is. And on top of that, you know, I've 26 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 2: coached multiple teams every every season. You know, when we 27 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 2: started out, i was coaching fourteen teams a week. This 28 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,759 Speaker 2: year I'm back to seven, which is more manageable from 29 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 2: me because I work full time too. 30 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: Yeh, Donna, I tell you all the other. 31 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 2: Things that go with what a volunteer needs to do 32 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 2: to keep a club surviving. 33 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, what's it been like for you over those years, say, 34 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: you know, seeing the club grow from having that one 35 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: team to having the number of teams that you currently 36 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 1: do now. 37 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: It's actually been quite amazing, Katie. I mean, I've coached 38 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: heaps of two generations in a family, but there were 39 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: a few three generations. Yep. Some of them are quite memorial, 40 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 2: like I've coached Kate Warden, her husband and her two children. 41 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: Over the years, I've coached teams where I've had members 42 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 2: of both SILP and Labor on the same team. 43 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: Love it. 44 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: It's been amazing. 45 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: A oh, Donna, or. 46 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: Might have to have a passion for the game. Yeah, 47 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: if you don't have a passion for the game, then 48 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 2: you know you really can't be there. But I had 49 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 2: a deep passion for because my daughter I sort of 50 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 2: started playing Nicky many years ago, and a coach two 51 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: in those early stages, I thought, well, you know, I 52 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: need to keep pressing who friends wanted to play and 53 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 2: all that. But it's just it's also important when you're 54 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 2: a volunteer to have a really great support group. And 55 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 2: I've got a really great support group at the moment, 56 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: small there's only four of us, but they're really great 57 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 2: that we get things done well. 58 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: And it's so important, donnor I mean, anybody that's been 59 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: involved for a sporting club. My father used to be 60 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: a swiming coach for years and years, and I've been 61 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: involved in plenty of sports when I was younger, and 62 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: those sports simply cannot happen if you don't have volunteers 63 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: and people like yourself ensuring that clubs continue to operate. 64 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: That's right. There's only so many dollars that can go around, 65 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: so that's when the volunteers step in and do all 66 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 2: the fundraising and just look after the team. Moment import 67 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: what we call imports. I don't like that task import players, 68 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: which is players from America come over and I've been 69 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: housing them for the last ten years. Every year we 70 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: have input players. 71 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh, Donna, that is amazing and I can understand 72 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: exactly why you were named the Northern Territory Volunteer of 73 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: the Year at the Northern Territory Sports Awards. But Donna, 74 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: I understand you've ever had a big week? What else 75 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: has happened? 76 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: Do you want to know about row week? I do? 77 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 2: Go on, Well, it started on Monday night last week. 78 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: My house has broken into and lots of things stolen, 79 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 2: so that was the bad thing just to start off with. 80 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: Then we had grand finals throughout the week, and then 81 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 2: we hosted because our league men were in the grand 82 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: final on Saturday night, so me and Anne Marie Rigley, 83 00:04:55,839 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: which is my team manager, hosted a formal dinner, uh 84 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: you know, cooking like they had on Friday night. Sunday, 85 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: we're at the stadium all day from ten o'clock our 86 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 2: first game, supporting all our junior teams. Then I coached 87 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 2: my under sixteen boys that was from five till six. 88 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: We won that grand final. Awesome, Amory talked about wasn't 89 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 2: going to go to the Sports Awards because I had 90 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: such a busy day in basketball Rand final day, But 91 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: Ann Marie talked me and saying, you have to go. 92 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: So we've raced into the Sports Awards and we were 93 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: there from six point thirty to that seven forty five 94 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: and that big surprise. Yeah, and then we had to 95 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: race back out to basketball because I was coaching the 96 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: men's league in their grand final at eight thirty. So wow, 97 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: we won that. Yeah, I thought nothing can top off. 98 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 2: This week has been amazing. And then last night they 99 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 2: went out to my daughter's place for dinner. On the 100 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: way home, I think it was just that one was 101 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 2: my fault, I right off my car. Oh no, yes, 102 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 2: in hospital. 103 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. 104 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: That was a big week, Donna. 105 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: I tell you what you've had a Well, you've had 106 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: a few ups and downs, to say the least. 107 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: And the lows. I started with a low on Monday, 108 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: finished with a low on Sunday, but had all those 109 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: highs in the middle. 110 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: Well, I tell you what. I Well, let's give you 111 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: another high because I think you deserve to be our territory. 112 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: And of the week. This week, we have got a 113 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: beautiful care package supplied by nevill At parrap fine foods 114 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: with gourmet goodness for your goodness, and it sounds like 115 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 1: you are well and truly our territory and of the week. 116 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: Donna. Oh, thank you very much. 117 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: Oh that's okay. You sound like a wonderful woman and 118 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: somebody that everybody will want on their club. I reckon, Oh, Donna, 119 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: you're a legend. I really appreciate you having a chat 120 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: with me this morning, and you know what, like on 121 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: behalf of the whole community as well. Thank you for 122 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: all of that work that you do for the sporting 123 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: club because I know that you know. I don't play 124 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: basketball and my kids don't play basketball, but I know 125 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: how important it is to have wonderful people like you 126 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: who are part of those clubs. So thank you for 127 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: all that you do. 128 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: I appreciate. 129 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: Good come no worries at all, Donnor. It is an 130 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: absolute pleasure to talk to you this morning. And I 131 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: hope that you're okay following on from that crash. 132 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: Bone in one hand. So that's all seatbelt? 133 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: Oh no, yeah, I reckon. Well, let's hope. I hope 134 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: that that care package helps you in some way as well. 135 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: I'm sure it'll be lovely to have that and have 136 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: some beautiful food in there. No, God, thank you, Donna. 137 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: Lovely to talk to you this morning. I tell you, 138 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: what a phenomenal lady Donna Hurst there. She's the Northern 139 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: Territory Sports Awards Volunteer of the Year. Hearing about how 140 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: she speaks about the basketball club, the Eagles, is wonderful. 141 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: Thirty seven years to be part of that basketball club, 142 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: It's quite amazing. And then when she's just told us 143 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: about the highs and the lows of her last week. 144 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: She is definitely our territory and of the week. What 145 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: a woman.