Sport
28 September, 2026
Bush kids get city exposure
THE recent Cairns and Cooktown Basketball Gala Day was a celebration of junior basketball, bringing together some of the Far North’s emerging talent for a day of competition, development and connection.
Cooktown made the four- hour long road trip south with teams ranging from under-10s through to under-18s, giving young players the opportunity to test themselves against strong competition from Cairns and gain valuable experience on the court.
For many of the Cooktown juniors, the gala day was more than just another basketball fixture.
It was an opportunity to step outside their local competition, compete against new opponents and put their skills on display in front of coaches and basketball representatives from Cairns.
Cooktown president Ashton Viranatuleo said the event was a major success and highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for players from regional communities.
“The day was a major success,” Viranatuleo said.
“It was so good for our country kids to rub shoulders with some of Cairns’ best players and be recognised by the Cairns coaches.”
The event also provided an important platform for Cairns Basketball to get a closer look at the talent developing outside the city.
A Cairns Basketball spokesman said regional events such as the gala day were valuable in helping identify emerging players across Far North Queensland.
“There’s so much talent in our regional areas,” he said.
“Days like these don’t only give them the opportunity to show out but also gives us an insight on what prospects we have around the Far North.”
With players from multiple age groups taking part, the gala day showcased the depth of junior basketball across the region and highlighted the benefits of bringing metropolitan and regional teams together.
For Cooktown’s young players, the trip provided a chance to compete, learn and build confidence against unfamiliar opposition, while Cairns coaches were given an opportunity to see some of the talent coming through in one of the Far North’s regional communities.
With Cairns Basketball looking to continue events of this nature, the gala day could become an important fixture for connecting junior players and clubs across the region.
Editor’s note: Jake Black is Cairns Basketball’s community engagement and junior development officer.
