At 80-years-old, Diane Goodman still remembers turning up to Neale Ave in Stoke every Saturday to play her part in building a homebase for Nelson Basketball.
The stadium, which would eventually be named in memory of her father, Jack Robins, took nearly 7000 hours of volunteer time and some 140 supporters to complete.
“It was a labour of love and the most wonderful thing to be involved in,” Diane remembers of the build, that was done by hand, brick-by-brick.
That was some 55 years ago, but now the stadium is at real risk of closing if they can’t raise funds to replace the roof soon.
Jack Robins Memorial Stadium has been the home of Nelson Basketball Association since the inaugural committee set about to build it almost six decades ago. The facility supports 2000 of the region’s basketballers and provides training facilities for the region’s representative teams, age-grade and senior teams.
At the time, they were the only basketball association in the country to attempt to build their own stadium.
Local builder John Toomer offered his services at cost and allowed the association to purchase four commercial sections for $4000 – well below market value.
Jack Robins was an inaugural member of the Nelson Indoor Basketball Association appointed on 20 March, 1968 and was one of two volunteers who contributed more than 500 hours of time to assist the build.
“I still live in Stoke and drive past it most days and smile to myself,” Diane says.
Nelson Basketball general manager Denise Coughlan says she first got a quote to replace the roof two years ago which was $100,000.
“The cost would’ve gone up since then. We are hoping to raise a decent amount and then apply for some grants,” she says. “It’s not really leaking yet, but it’s going to soon and when that happens, we’re going have to shut.”
Denise says that would more than likely be the point of no return for the stadium, as water ingress would damage the wooden floors, which would be too expensive to bring back.
The stadium runs basketball every night of the week during winter, is well-used in summer, and a closure would mean rep teams would have to pay to hire the likes of Saxton Stadium to train in.
“We try and have an open door policy, so if we are here, which is every day, then come in and use the courts.”
With four visits during the course of writing this article, it’s clear how well-utilised it is, with the sound of balls echoing off the walls.
Denise says, with just three staff to run basketball all year round, there is no time to concentrate on fundraising for the project.
“Look at what’s happening around us, there’s so much new stuff going up,” Brooke Lal says of the development of Stoke. “This poor old baby is just the oldest thing on the street.”
Jack’s family were the first to purchase a sheet of iron for the replacement through the ‘purchase a sheet’ initiative. $250 buys one sheet and gives the sponsor their name on an honours board inside the stadium.
“While the stadium has dad’s name on it, it was owned by all of us, it is a real community asset,” Diane says.
To help with fundraising, contact GM@nelsonbasketball.co.nz or donate here.
