Held at the Qodus Bank Arena function centre, in conjunction with the Sydney Flames vs Bendigo Spirit and Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers double header, Balsar was one of four individuals, including Graeme Reid, Jann Partyka and Vicki Dean to receive Long Service Awards, in front of more than 250 guests.

“I was blown away when I found out I was receiving the award,” Balsar said.

“You don’t get involved with sports teams or organisations for awards like this but it is nice all the same to be recognised.”

Balsar has been a major part of Shoalhaven Basketball for the past 30 years, with him holding roles ranging from miniball, junior representative teams, Waratah League teams, fundraising, maintenance and the board of management.

Anyone that comes to the Tigers Den knows Stumpy as the barbecue man, as that’s where you’ll find him every Wednesday and Friday, raising funds for the Shoalhaven Basketball Association.

In 2018 alone, he raised more than $5000 for the club – money which enabled the association to hold presentation days at the Nowra swimming pool, to reward all players and staff for their hard work during the season.

During his spare time, he has been the maintenance man during the Christmas holidays, regularly being found at the Den, sanding, resurfacing, cleaning and repairing the floors.

He also played an inaugural part of the upgrade of the SBA canteen, which he was the manager for for 10 years, and the renewal and replacement of the stadium roof – which was paid for largely by the takings from the canteen.

Of note, in 2003, Stumpy led a band of volunteers to re-vamp the stadium, including installing two new glass backboards and replacing the stadiums lights, which assisted the SBA gain the right to host the 2003 Waratah League final series.

On the back of this, the Den also hosted the 2006 FIBA Oceania under 19s World Championship qualifying series between Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Waratah League finals again – thanks largely to Stumpy’s volunteer work.

Since then, the Den has been lucky enough to also host a National Basketball League, Women’s National Basketball League and state volleyball events.

On the court, Stumpy started his work with the junior representative programs as the manager of his son Scott’s teams.

Once Scott moved into the senior programs, so did Stumpy, where he was a part of the Waratah League women’s division one titles in 2007 and 2008, as well as the youth league men’s division two crown in 2018.

Following the pair’s success with the Tigers, they moved into work with Basketball NSW, where Stumpy became the head cater for NSW Country sides at the Australian Junior Country Basketball Cup in Albury ever January since 1986.

His first four years at the AJCBC saw him manage the under 18 boys sides, cooking for 20 players and six staff during the tournament.

Then in 1990, NSW Country approached him to cater for their whole camp – 160 players and more than 40 staff.

Of course he accepted the role, seeing him cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for more than 200 people for 10 days straight – with his days starting at 5am and running through to 10pm at night.

On the back of this hard work, Stumpy received the prestigious Award of Merit for service to the AJCBC and Country Basketball in 2010.

During this time, Balsar would also attend the NSW Country under 12 Jamboree in Port Macquarie each year, catering for more than 160 11-year-olds, 30 staff and 25 referees for three meals a day.

Doing such a great job, Stumpy also took on the responsibility of catering for all 120 athletes part of the BNSW high performance program.

To cater for all these events, Stumpy, renown for his famous sausage, onion, gravy and potato mash combination, would regularly take annual lave from his normal job.

Closer to home, Balsar also caters for all 10 corporate boxes for all Waratah League home games during the past 20 years at the Den.

As you can see, Stumpy’s Long Service Award is very well deserved.