Young volunteer's Wildcats dream

Australind Senior High School student Tom Boyle is in the running for a behind the scenes look at a Perth Wildcats game day as part of the Department of Sport and Recreation’s Ultimate Volunteer Reward competition.

Tom has spent his Monday afternoon’s volunteering his time to the Australind Basketball Association as the coach of his younger brother’s team since the start of the year.

He has also taken part in a junior referee development program and will accompany the coach and Under- 13 boys Country Championships team to Perth later this year.

The 15-year-old said coaching was its own reward, but shadowing those closest to the Perth Wildcats on a game day would be fantastic.

“I love basketball and have played it pretty much my entire life, so when my brother’s team was short of a coach I thought I’d put my hand up,” Tom said.

“They’re the youngest team in the competition and haven’t had too much success, but they’re getting better each week.”

“I’m a massive Wildcats fan and would love to be in the stadium and maybe even in the locker room on game day.”

Tom, who suspects he was nominated by the mother of one of the boys he coaches, is up against volunteers from across Western Australia in the Ultimate Volunteer Reward program, a Government initiative which aims to recognise the thousands of people across the State who donate their time to keep sporting communities active.

Ten competition winners will each receive a VIP behind the scenes sporting experience with the Perth Wildcats, Western Force, West Coast Eagles, West Coast Fever or at the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.