VICTORIA (Australia) - Basketball Victoria's Marty Handson Coaching Scholarship recipient Gail Macfarlane will travel to Fiji for the opportunity to work with Basketball Fiji. The visit will be from 14 to 19 of October with the goal of acclimating the Australian to the National Federation's development programs.

Macfarlane is one of the two inaugural recipients of the initiative from Basketball Victoria and FIBA Oceania.

"To be an inaugural recipient of the Scholarship is very special and I feel very humbled to be chosen," says Macfarlane "The opportunity to travel to Oceania countries to learn and share knowledge and my love of the game is very exciting."

"The opportunity for the coaches involved to learn other countries' basketball programs will provide them a great learning experience and vice versa. It will hopefully broaden their horizons and they can incorporate what they learned in this program in future coaching opportunities"- Annie LaFleur, FIBA Oceania Development Manager

Currently a Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator at Traralgon College, Macfarlane shared that her experience as an educator has piqued her interest with the chance to work with the Bula Hoops. Hoops For Health and Mum's A Hero development programs.

"I’m really looking forward to helping grow the love of healthy active participation and use basketball and having worked in the education sector, I’m looking forward to working with children in eight different schools in Fiji," she excitedly shared.

FIBA Oceania Development Manager, Annie La Fleur highlighted the success of the first coaching tour of the scholarship and believes that the goals of the program are an essential tool in helping basketball grow in the region.

"The opportunity for the coaches involved to learn about other countries' basketball programs which will provide them a great learning experience. It will hopefully broaden their horizons and they can incorporate what they learned in this program in future coaching opportunities," said La Fleur.

"The exchange of knowledge between the coaches will help further the development and understanding of basketball in our region," she added.

Macfarlane, a University of Melbourne graduate acknowledged the opportunity provided by the scholarship and is keen to make the most out of the experience.

"I’m looking forward to finding out more about basketball in Fiji and learning about the strengths in Fijian style of play," said Macfarlane.

"It will also be great to help players that will be representing Fiji at the Australian Junior Country Basketball Cup in Albury NSW in January 2020, where I will also be coaching," she added.

Basketball Fiji Chief Operating Officer, Laisiasa Puamau has welcomed the opportunity to host Macfarlane and is excited to show the development programs of the National Federation.

"It's always a learning experience to bring a coach from another country like Australia to observe and help develop our programs," said Puamau. "We have a full-packed schedule during the visit and we are excited to work with Gail next week.".

 FIBA