However, thanks to the efforts of Mae Grant, that will not be the case in 2019. 

Grant, a 20-year-old Queanbeyan native, has spent the last few months securing funding and developing interest in restarting women’s basketball in town, and explained that the ambition began during her time playing basketball in Goulburn in 2018. 

“I looked at Goulburn and was like ‘If Goulburn can do it [put together a women’s side], why can’t Queanbeyan?’” Grant said. 

“There’s heaps of talent coming through Queanbeyan at the moment, we’ve had girls picked in the junior Australian squad.

“If we’re not up with Canberra, we are going to lose those players and all that talent.”

Of course, coming up with the idea is one thing, but actually executing it is another entirely.

Grant first had to ensure that the could get the requisite number of players together.

At this point it appears she has been successful, with roughly 22 players expected to be selected in the preliminary squad. 

The next step was to secure funding, and Grant expressed her deep gratitude to the Queanbeyan businesses who sponsored the team, and to the Queanbeyan Basketball board who have supported her from the outset. 

“The Queanbeyan community’s been great … it’s a big thing for Queanbeyan to have a team in this league,” Grant said. 

“Tracey [O’Brien, vice president of the Queanbeyan District Basketball Association] has been fantastic. 

“The board’s been fantastic in supporting my ideas, so it’s good to know that Queanbeyan backs me too and they want this and they’re just as passionate as I am.” 

The team will hold trials tonight, at the Queanbeyan Basketball Stadium from 8.30pm. 

The team selected will play in the NSW State League, with the first game set to take place on March 9.