BASKETBALL
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A Wollongong church leader has echoed calls for the region's businesses to help save the Hawks from extinction
Paul Bartlett, a senior leader at Lighthouse, has been the Hawks' team chaplain for the past decade and believes the club is an important part of the region's culture and identity.
"Our city needs local heroes like the Hawks players. They're great role models who kids can connect with and aspire to be like," Bartlett said.
"The players are very involved in the community, working with 8000 students each year through the School Hoops program and taking another 2000 young people through anti-drug and anti-bullying courses."
The Hawks have until the end of the month to haul themselves out of voluntary administration.
The deadline will be extended if the club provides proof that its financial position has strengthened over the past few weeks and will continue to improve.
"The club had financial difficulties a number of years back but they were saved when the community and local businesses intervened, so Wollongong needs to understand this is a good thing for our city and do something about it," Bartlett said.
"At Lighthouse we've regularly taken disadvantaged young people to games and sat them in a corporate box. They've never had that sort of experience before, it's been brilliant.
"The team has given their absolute best for many years and I'm hoping the Wollongong community will step up. We need passionate fans and passionate businesses to get behind the Hawks."