30-year contribution receives recognition

Jill Bolger has been an ever-present figure in Southland basketball for the past 30 years, but still admitted to being surprised when she claimed a national award earlier this week.

The Southland Sharks general manager picked up the Zena B Gay Award for contribution to women's basketball or by a woman at Basketball New Zealand's annual meeting.

Bolger has been involved as a referee and administrator in Southland basketball since the early 1980s and has served as the president of Southland Basketball during two lengthy periods. In her most recent stint, she was president from 2002 until late last year but stepped down when she was named general manager of the new Sharks NBL franchise. Bolger said the award had come out of the blue, with the basketball nut just doing what she had always been passionate about.

"I was pretty surprised. There's some well-known basketball names on the award," she said.

"People don't volunteer to gain recognition."

Basketball New Zealand president John Gallaher said Bolger had made an immense contribution to basketball in the south and deserved the accolade.

"We're thrilled we can acknowledge her. Basketball in Southland is synonomous with Jill Bolger. She's been involved over a long period of time."

Last year, Bolger served on the BBNZ board for the first time and said she was looking forward to the role again this year.

"The first year was pretty daunting. I think I've got the ability to contribute a lot more this year," she said.

Bolger has been critical of the sport's governing body in the past in her time with Southland Basketball and said being on the board allowed her to see things from another perspective.

"I enjoy it. It's challenging, but offers a really good insight into the issues surrounding the associations.

The associations tend to throw bricks at the national body when things don't go right."

Bolger and Southland Basketball have enjoyed a good run lately, with Southland gaining an NBL team for the first time in history late last year. The Sharks played their first match in the league last Saturday night in Invercargill – taking the Hawke's Bay Hawks to overtime before losing 90-105.

She said she was extremely happy with the state of the game in Southland at the moment and said their main goal was to continue to raise the profile of the game at the grassroots level.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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