With both Albury and Wodonga’s basketball venues in frequent use this week, transporting the teams is a vital exercise.
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Two bus drivers in particular have had a long-standing relationship with the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup on the Border and make the annual trip for their love of the sport.
Nowra’s John Kennedy, from Kennedy’s Bus and Coach, brought teams down to the first edition of the Cup back in 1987 and has been to every one since.
“I’ve had three of my daughters go through it and have a granddaughter here in the under 14s this year,” Kennedy said.
“My youngest daughter is getting married to (basketball coach) Shannon Seebohm in a couple of months.”
“We looked after New Zealand for quite a number of years until they started flying into Melbourne.
“We also did Papua New Guinea and China when they came out.”
Kennedy admitted the logistics of running a trip of this nature when he started was much more difficult than it is today.
“In the older days you had to work a lot harder and had to do all the catering as well,” he said.
“I did the barbecuing and got them all their supplies, but now they have people to do that.”
Kennedy’s company is responsible for the 14 NSW teams at the event and ensures all 140 players get safely to and from where they need to be.
“It was a little bit daunting at first, but the kids behave well and know they have to be on time,” he said.
“I’m 65 now and I thought I’d retire this year, but I might try to get 35 years up.”
He added there has been many different personalities over the time, but wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I just love the game of basketball and I’ve made a lot of great friends and acquaintances over the years,” Kennedy said.
South Australia’s David Hey is in a very similar position, with 2017 marking his 19th year at the Border event.
Hey said he has enjoyed watching the juniors come up through the ranks during the tours and staying involved with basketball.
“It’s always good fun,” he said.
“We bring over 140 players, plus managers and we have three coaches, which we usually split into the three age groups.
“It’s a 12-hour drive so we normally leave at six in the morning and get here at six at night.”
Hey is a landscaper in his spare time and said this is his main tour each year because he organises all the logistics himself.
“Over the years it’s actually gotten a bit easier,” he admitted.
“I’ll definitely be back next year for my 20th one.”
