Karol Ojczyk was once a part of the furniture at the Craigieburn Basketball Association, and a long term resident of Hume. He tells Star Weekly his story of loving the game at the local level.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
Growing up in Airport West and East Keilor one of five children with Parents that worked from dawn to dusk, I needed to find my own way in life. From the age of 10, Aircraft and the Essendon Airport was my backyard and my passion. I would spend most of my free time wandering around the various Workshops and watching Aircraft. This led me to a 41 year career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, apprentice at Ansett, moving to TAA which transitioned to Australian Airlines then merged with QANTAS (retired) then moved onto the Kilmore International School as a Boarding Master and Activities Program Co-Ordinator 11yrs (retired).
It was when I was a Student at Niddrie High School 1967 that I discovered the game of Basketball and quickly became product of a fledgling Basketball program of Niddrie High School. We would often have to walk to the Coburg Basketball Stadium (approx. 12 km) as this was our closest Venue. 1969 is when I started to Coach younger Teams as well as playing in my own Team. I started my first Basketball Club in 1970 the CUB”s which progressed into the Niddrie Tigers.
What’s your connection to Hume?
It was March 1980 when I moved into Craigieburn and almost immediately joined the Craigieburn Basketball Association bringing a Niddrie Tigers Team into the Senior Comp; 1981 I was invited to become a member of the Junior Basketball Association Committee and continuously served on the Committee in various positions until 2015 with a 3 year hiatus in between. I had Coached many of the Domestic Teams and worked my way into the position of Representative Coach by 1984. Having won various Titles at “B’ Central, Metro 4 & 3 from the age groups of U12 to U18. I was then given the opportunity to Coach an U20 Boys Squad and managed to achieve Championship Level and finishing 5th.
During the mid to late ‘80’s I was also a part of the Martin Derks Team that established Little Athletics in Craigieburn from its Fawkner foundation. I also Played for the Craigieburn Football Club during the early ‘80’s.
The Northwest Region Basketball Competition encompassing the boarders of Mackinnon, Altona, Bacchus Marsh, Sunbury, Wallan, thru to Mill Park and suburbs in between was established by myself and Gary Gibson, followed Pat Crowe when Gary was forced to retire.
It was in 1992 that I along with Kerry Monro a fellow advocate for continuous improvement within the Craigieburn Basketball Program developed the Saturday morning Basketball Clinic. This was a totally self-funded voluntary position that catered for all levels of skills. The aim was to give Children the opportunity to be involved in an activity that promoted Craigieburn Basketball but at the same time applied no pressure to perform, achievements were gained on the progression of the Childs own wants and desires, this Clinic was totally casual and produced 100’s of Domestic participants and a myriad of Rep Players. This Clinic ended in 2006 after 14 years of volunteering. As a result, the Hammers Basketball Club grew out of the remnants of the Clinic of which I was the founding President and is still in operation today.
During the mid ‘90’s I was appointed VBL Assistant Coach to the Senior Men’s Squad (2yrs) and later to the Senior Women’s Squad (4yrs) albeit the pseudo–Team Manager and Stats person. I was also instrumental in two USA Basketball Tours and the Assistant in 1995 (my son Michael was a Team member) and Head Coach of the undefeated Girls Tour in 1998.
During my time working for Craigieburn Basketball, I had received one of the first Life Memberships, and was Granted the Alan Ashe Memorial Award for the Victorian Volunteer of Year 2012 by Basketball Victoria.
What do you like about where you live?
Craigieburn may not be the open Community it was during the ‘80’s and ‘90’s where everyone just about knew everyone and looked after everyone to the best; but I knew it was always going to grow into the Suburb it is today. The potential for a strong understanding of Community is still very evident and it is Sports like the Basketball Association that continues to prove what can be achieved with right sense of community.
