Save Our South Dragons

A BERWICK18-year-old has launched a bold bid to resurrect the South DragonsBasketball Club from the sporting abyss. The Dragons dropped out of theNational Basketball League earlier this year – after winning lastseason’s championship against the Melbourne Tigers. The move leftplayers and staff without a job and fans without a team to support. Butdiehard fan Hayden Ostrom Brown is taking it on himself to save theDragons and has started an aptly-named Save the Dragons campaign.

MrOstrom Brown was looking to reinstate the Dragons under a communitymodel for the 2010/11 season. Under his plan, the Dragons  would getcommunity and corporate support and be under the direction of anelected board, rather than in private ownership. Mr Ostrom Brown saidthe campaign was in its early stages and he was trying to gather asmuch support as possible.

‘‘It’scertainly not great timing with all the school work I’ve got in frontof me, but I can’t just sit back and let the Dragons die,’’ he said.‘‘During the off-season we saw both Wollongong and Cairns’ NBL teamssaved by their local communities, so I don’t see why we can’t keep thefire burning for the Dragons. ‘‘We’re a bigger town and I think fanswould jump at the opportunity to help.’’ He said BasketballAustralia was looking to start a new Victorian team, but it was askinga lot for fans to realign themselves with a new brand. Mr Ostrom Brownwants fans to pledge support and help find sponsors. Details: Save OurDragons campaign, www.saveourdragons.com