The Illawarra Hawks' No.1 ticketholder has sent a passionate plea to the community to fill the WIN Entertainment Centre with the sounds of the now famous "ILL-A-WAR-RA" chant in the team's push towards finals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Hawks play three vital home games this week and are currently sitting in fourth place on the National Basketball League ladder.
A win this afternoon against Adelaide could take the Hawks' up to third with home games to come against the Perth Wildcats on Tuesday night and the arch rival Sydney Kings on Thursday.
Hawks No.1 ticketholder, former Hawks player and leading molecular biologist Dr Justin Yerbury AM has called on the community to come out in support of the region's NBL club in the final three games.
In a letter, which Professor Yerbury writes with his eyes given his own battle with motor neuron disease, he says "our team needs us", referencing how the community fought to have the name of the Illawarra returned to the club.
"We have been through some tough times together over the years but every time someone has stepped up to save the team," Professor Yerbury wrote.
"It's our turn now."
Tip-off this afternoon is 3 pm and the game will include a special presentation as part of the NBL's indigenous round.
A letter to the people of the Illawarra
Why we need to pack the WIN Entertainment Centre for the last three games.
The Illawarra Hawks have three home games left in the 2020-21 season and every game is important.
We are just hanging on to fourth position but our arch rivals, the Sydney Kings are right on our heels.
We need to win these games and OUR team needs us.
I know that when you hit a shot and a full crowd cheers you on it makes the basket look twice as big.
So let's do our part and cheer them on.
More importantly, OUR Illawarra Hawks are just that OURS and we need to show the NBL that we deserve to have a team in the national league and that OUR team is financially viable.
OUR Illawarra Hawks have been part of our community since 1979 when Gordie McLeod led the team out.
We have been through some tough times together over the years but every time someone has stepped up to save the team.
It's our turn now.
I am calling on everyone to buy a ticket for one of the remaining home games and invite three friends to come along.
I will start by calling on all those who protested the removal of the Illawarra name.
In particular the Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbury, Stephen Jones MP, Paul Scully MP, and Sharon Bird MP.
Let's go Hawks fans ... ILL-A-WAR-RA
Dr Justin Yerbury AM
Julian O'Brien
Editor of the Illawarra Mercury and former editor of The Advocate (North-West Tasmania). Journalism is simply about telling good stories well and we do so now across a broader platform than ever before. Our role as a regional masthead is to not only share the stories our readers care about but to be a passionate torch bearers for community at every opportunity. We are stronger together.
Editor of the Illawarra Mercury and former editor of The Advocate (North-West Tasmania). Journalism is simply about telling good stories well and we do so now across a broader platform than ever before. Our role as a regional masthead is to not only share the stories our readers care about but to be a passionate torch bearers for community at every opportunity. We are stronger together.
