Team NT – Uniform Presentation at Government House NT

Written by Janine Matheson – NTTBA President

The Northern Territory team for bowlers with a disability (Team NT) was immensely proud to be invited to a function at Government House by Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran OA, Administrator of the Northern Territory, for the presentation of their uniforms before leaving for the National Tenpin Bowling Disability Championships.

The formal presentation of uniforms to Team NT was introduced a few years ago. The event has certainly raised the profile of our bowlers, built on the sense of pride in wearing an NT uniform, and provided an opportunity to acknowledge not only our sponsors but the generosity of our valuable officials.

The officials accompany the team and do a great deal of work behind the scenes.  They are all volunteers who give tirelessly to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our team. Uniforms have been presented in the past by the local member for Nightcliff (where the Darwin bowling alley was located) and the Minister for Sport, but it was truly an honour and a thrill for the team to be invited to Government House.

Numbers were limited to observe due to COVID physical distancing restrictions, but all team members who live in Darwin were able to attend, as well as some of their parents.

 Coach Kaye (who has been coaching the team for over 14 years), Assistant Coach Jenny Tiernan (who is also the NT Disability Officer and organises the whole trip for the team), Janine Matheson (President of the Northern Territory Tenpin Bowling Association), and Helen Balatero (parent and first aid officer for the team) were all in attendance.  One of the parents, Martin Sammut, was also the NTTBA official photographer for the event.

Sponsors of the team were also invited, and we acknowledged the enormous contribution our sponsors make to Team NT, which makes it possible for them to travel to the Championships.  This year the team was sponsored by: NT Government, NTTBA, Planet Tenpin (Darwin), Mindil Beach Casino Resort, ZipPrint, Curbys NT and HalfPennys Lawyers. Team NT’s uniforms were designed by one of our Darwin members, Uschi Bennetts, and they truly captured the essence and spirit of the Northern Territory. 

Her Honour makes a significant contribution to Territorians with a disability and has shown great support for Team NT 2021, particularly with the disruption the team has faced to their training since the closure of the Darwin centre at the beginning of May.

It was such a fitting way to send the team off to Brisbane, by having their uniforms presented by the Northern Territory’s number one citizen, and we thank Her Honour for her kind and encouraging words, the lovely refreshments, and the thrill for the team members to be presented with their uniforms.

Team NT 2021 – Richard Bowden (Alice Springs), Enrique Balatero, Michelle Christensen, Chris Cooper, Kate Copley, Amanda Hintz, Christos Karagiorgos, Karen Klose, Richard Knuth, Luke Purtill, Amanda Rogers, Malakai Sammut, Jyrah Sammut, Lisa Tiernan, Nathan Ware, Shannon Ware, Coach Kaye Talbot.

 (Photographs provided by Martin Smmut – NTTBA photographer and member)