Illawarra Hawks player and New Zealander Max Darling is preparing a homecoming this week, as the Hawks gear up to make their first trip across the ditch. The New Zealand Breakers were relocated for the majority of the 2021 NBL season due to COVID travel restrictions, meaning that this is the Hawk’s first trip to New Zealand this season, and Darling’s first home visit since last October. While Darling is excited to return home, his focus will still be on the game, as the Hawks are pushing to maintain their standing at fourth on the ladder, and make the semi-finals.…
Author: Jed Wells
Australian mental health care and suicide prevention services are set to receive $2.3 billion worth of support, following the delivery of the 2021-22 federal budget. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the budget set aside $1.6 billion for in-person treatment and the creation of 57 new mental health treatment centres as part of a national network. The mental health of Australians aged 12-25 has been addressed through the expansion of Headspace centres across the country. Early intervention and support has been prioritised for children 12 and under with mental health issues, with $100.8 million invested in parental support and well-being hubs. The…
Vulnerable people in the Illawarra will wait longer to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations after the federal government announced further delays to the vaccine rollout. The government had committed to vaccinating four million Australians by the end of March, a target it will now miss by over three-point-one million. Only 842,000 Australians have received the COVID-19 vaccine so far. Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said the roll-out delay is unacceptable. “The federal government appears to have comprehensively failed at every step along the way of the vaccine rollout,” Mr Scully said. “The consequence of that, for the Illawarra and beyond, is…
NBL player Mitch Creek has been cleared to resume basketball activities, leading to a highly negative reaction from fans online. Creek, who is signed to the South East Melbourne Phoenix, has not played or trained with his team since the 15th of March when he was charged with intentionally causing injury and other offenses by Victorian Police. However, the NBL, the Australian Basketball Players Association, and the SE Melbourne Phoenix have now agreed that Creek is cleared to rejoin the team, and will play in the team’s Thursday night game against the Illawarra Hawks, per an NBL statement. Creek’s playing…