Trevor Jackson
LIFE membership of any club in any sport is certainly an honour but not something recipients purposely target.
Recently two such honours were handed out by the Mount Gambier Pioneers basketball club, with volunteer Michael Aschberger and men’s head coach Richard Hill both receiving the accolades.
Hill is a well known figure at games, while Aschberger is somewhat behind the scenes.
Despite working hard in the background, Aschberger’s contribution has not been lost on the Pioneers hierarchy, with club president Tom Kosch in no doubt he was a worthy recipient of life membership.
“Michael has been a key contributor to our game night since supporting the club in 2009 as a statistician originally,” Kosch said.
“He has committed over the years hugely to the specific roles we need as an official doing the stats on home game nights.
“As our club expanded in 2019 with the women’s team, he took on the role as game night commissioner which is responsible for officiating and being a responsible game night person at home games.
“We are hugely fortunate volunteers such as Michael support our club.
“Without the support of someone like that it is very difficult to be able to achieve and run successful game nights as we do all year.”
Kosch expanded further on the importance of volunteers to the success of the club.
He said the club was 100 per cent volunteer managed throughout its 34-year history, which was vital to the former and ongoing success.
Kosch said Aschberger was indeed a worthy recipient of the honour.
“There was absolutely no doubt about it,” he said.
“Michael is a quiet achiever, always provides his support and loves his involvement.
“He is a huge advocate for the sport and our basketball program.”
Hill has become a huge figure at the Pioneers since his arrival in 2011.
He has taken the club from obscurity to one of the best in the history of the SEABL competition and continues into the NBL1 era.
“I think if you ask anyone within basketball around the country they would know of the success the Pioneers and Richard Hill have had in SEABL,” Kosch said.
“The winning record he has been able to achieve in his time in Mount Gambier is outstanding.
“If you look across his coaching history he has had success in coaching football both here in the South East and back at home in Handorf.
“His track record at that level is nothing short of outstanding.”
Kosch said the commitment provided by Hill – whose home in is the Adelaide Hills township of Handorf – was outstanding.
“It has been a great fit for him here in Mount Gambier as our coach,” he said.
“He has been able to provide great opportunities for those who have come and gone, playing here as well as aspiring coaches tied up with our local association.
“The knowledge he has been able to pass on has been outstanding.”
Hill certainly draws attention on game nights and has become a popular figure at home games.
“He walks into the stadium and everyone knows who he is,” Kosch said.
“The contribution he has made over the journey has been great and we are hopeful we can continue to have Richard support our basketball club into the future.”
Kosch said there was never any doubt about how worthy either recipient was for the honour of life membership.
“The contribution of Michael and Richard were easy ticks for our board,” he said.
“When presented at an AGM for life membership it was unanimous both were suitable life members of our basketball club.”
