Pioneers Stalwarts Honoured | Life Membership Awarded

The Mount Gambier Pioneers have recently presented life memberships to two long time servants of the Club.

Pictured: Michael Aschberger, Pioneers Basketball Club Life Member.

Michael Aschberger first volunteered in 2009, undertaking a statistician role which he continued to perform until the end of the 2019 season. With the Pioneers entry into the NBL1, the Club was required to appoint a Game Night Chair. Michael continues to diligently undertake this role each home game.

The Mount Gambier Pioneers President, Tom Kosch said that Aschberger was a quiet achiever though his recognition is richly deserved.

“The Pioneers are largely a volunteer-based organisation with many volunteers who have contributed hugely to our basketball Club over our 34 year history.

Michael is a selfless volunteer and without his contribution over many years our game night operation would have been extremely difficult,” Kosch said.

Pictured: Richard "Richo" Hill, Pioneers Basketball Club Life Member. Photo Credit: Ian Knight Photography.

Kosch went on to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of the second life member recipient in Castec Rural Pioneers Head Coach, Richard Hill.

Since being signed as Head Coach in November 2011 Hill has effectively utilised his wealth of experience coaching at all levels of basketball and football to bring a winning culture to the Pioneers.

“All Pioneers supporters are very aware of what Richard has achieved on court while he has been in Mount Gambier. Richard’s competitiveness and willingness to find a way to bring the most out of his teams and individual players is admirable.  He is a true leader, and we are extremely fortunate to have benefitted from his contribution to our Club over this time,’; Kosch said.

The Castec Rural Pioneers and the OneFortyOne Pioneers are both sitting on first and second on their respective ladders after thirteen matches having won ten [men] and eleven [women] and will return to The Icehouse on Saturday, July 16 for their next home game following a double header this weekend.