Thirteen-year-old basketballer Taj Goonrey has certainly gone the extra mile to play the sport he loves, with Taj and his mum Jade clocking up more than 12,000km travelling to Dubbo in the past year.
Their dedication and countless hours on the road have paid off, with Taj recently earning selection in the Dubbo Rams Under 16s representative basketball team.
Jade said Taj’s passion for basketball began in their backyard, where he would practise before and after school until the sun went down.
After briefly living in Newcastle, where Taj joined a competition, the family returned to Cobar and Jade installed a concrete slab and basketball ring at home so he could continue practising.
With no regular competition available in Cobar, Jade contacted the Dubbo Basketball Association, which welcomed Taj provided they could commit to the weekly travel.
Since April, the pair have made the Friday afternoon trip to Dubbo, sometimes not returning home until 11pm, with Taj’s school also supporting the arrangement.
Jade said Taj’s skills have improved considerably under his Dubbo coach, with his shooting ability, speed and teamwork earning him selection in the Dubbo Rams Under 16 Boys 2027 representative team.
The selection means more travelling, with Western Junior League games to be played in Griffith, Orange and Bathurst.
When Cobar Services Club board president Susie Loughran found out that Taj had earned Rams selection, she took it to the club board who have stepped in to help, covering Taj’s $750 registration fee and organising fundraising activities to assist with travel costs.
Club secretary/manager Dale Russell praised Jade’s commitment.
“The dedication that Jade’s got every weekend is phenomenal. That’s really going above and beyond as a parent,” Dale said.
