The FDBA hosted its annual Launch/Awards night on Wednesday evening at the Frankston RSL. The event was filled with excitement and anticipation for what promises to be another big year for the association.
At Wednesday night’s event, David Hill was honoured with the FDBA Volunteer of the Year award for 2024, also known as the Ian Watt Medal.
This award recognises his outstanding contributions as a volunteer to the association.
Hill stepped up as a volunteer when his local club needed help over seven years ago —and has since become an integral part of grassroots basketball in the Frankston & District Basketball Association (FDBA) and beyond.
Hill’s volunteering journey began in 2018 when his son’s team was in urgent need of a coach. David took on the role, marking the start of an incredible commitment to the Mt Eliza Meteors Basketball Club.
Over the years, David has taken on multiple roles within the club – Coach, team manager, grievance officer, vice president, and since 2021, club president. His dedication has been instrumental in the club’s significant growth.
One of Hill’s most remarkable achievements was guiding the club through the challenges of the pandemic.
The Meteors not only survived but thrived, with membership soaring by 175% within just two seasons after the ‘return to play’ post-covid. His leadership ensured that players returned to the court with renewed enthusiasm, helping the club reach new heights.
Without volunteers like David, hundreds of children would miss out on the opportunity to play basketball. The Meteors facilitate more than 1140 participants at Frankston Basketball across 137 registered teams, with additional teams competing in other associations.
Hill was acknowledged by Basketball Australia during National Volunteer Week last year, and we are pleased to announce that he has now been recognised by FDBA with the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2024.
David’s willingness to put in extra hours to ensure his club continues to thrive exemplifies the essence of the award.
Most importantly, he has played a key role in increasing youth basketball participation along the Mornington Peninsula.
Congratulations to David Hill on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your outstanding service to the sport!