Jesus, in this case, happens to be a Spanish teenage sufferer from polio who just loves roller basketball and is likely to find a place in our quite successful local team.
Fully named Jesus Romero Martin first heard about us from another local roller – baller Brett Stibners, who is one of several from here who play in the somewhat lucrative European competition.
Betty Hassen fell into her eventual love for roller – balling by accident and today she spends much of her time at matches and heading a fund raising committee.
Born in Wales, but in Australia from the age of seven years, Betty and the family of seven first settled at Fairy Meadow and dad worked at the steelworks.
Later they spent time at Austinmer before finally settling at Balgownie.
Betty was educated at Fairy Meadow Demonstration School and Wollongong High before a scholarship earned her a job in metallurgy at the steelworks. Another scholarship took her to Sydney University where she studied psychology, and then a Teachers College scholarship led her to teaching which she fell in love with from day one.
She is now in her 20th year as a teacher at Berkeley Sports High where she specialises in languages such as French, German, Italian and Japanese.
A keen basketballer in her earlier days Betty first learned about the Illawarra Rollerball Hawks in 2001 when she was asked to help with match statistics and her interest in the sport really took off.
A life member of the NBL and one time recipient of the Australian Sports Medal, Betty, obviously because of her linguistic talents, was asked to be a liaison officer with the Japanese team at the world wheel chair basketball titles in Sydney in 1998, and this was followed by assistance for the Japanese and French teams at the 2000 paralympics.
Betty says the local team, whose efforts generally go unheralded, won the national title in 2003, the bronze medal in 2007 and they are looking good again in 2008. Three likely for Beijing
What’s more there are three locals – Tristan Knowles, Andrew Flavell and Brett Stibners – who look certain to represent Australia in the sport at the upcoming Beijing Olympics.
The team trains and players at the Shellharbour City Sporting Complex in Croome Road – it just happens to be the only suitable local sporting stadium with wheelchair access – and it has been embraced by the locals.
Betty says it’s not easy being a wheelchair sportsperson anywhere with a general lack of proper showering facilities and the like, and when a team has to travel finding suitable accommodation with specially fitted disabled rooms is a nightmare.
Add to this the fact that if flying by QUANTAS, for example, the airline will only provide for four special seats on any one flight.
And then there’s the added costs to parents of these disabled players, Betty says, who have to pay for the special chairs and a range of other costs.
She is pleased, however, with the support that has started to be provided by local sponsors.
Betty says the Roller Hawks have helped young Jesus come to Australia where he will fit into the top side as a mid – pointer, which is a rating for his type of disability.
If you would like to see a game or show an interest in this growing sport you can contact Betty at home on 4228 6214 or email her on bhassen@optusnet.com.au, or if you’d like to go to the team website try www.rollerhawks.com.au. | 
