November 2026 Newsletter:
Introduction
With our athletes getting back into sport after a short off-season, there’s plenty of energy around SRA as the work carries over to the court, track and field. It’s been great to see everyone maintain their commitment to training while settling back into busy sporting schedules.
November brings plenty to celebrate, including representative team selections, completed rehabilitation journeys and some big session milestones. We’re also getting back to work with our NBL1 teams and making the most of Saturday mornings on the track.
Read on for the latest news, athlete achievements and updates from across the SRA community!
Welcome to the Family:
| New and Returning Athletes |
|---|
|
Ben Nucifora Mason Early Lucas Byrne Tyler Laird Heath Rodger Benji Rochford |
SRA News
Feedback Survey
As we head towards the end of the year, we’d love to hear from our SRA parents and athletes. Your feedback helps us understand what’s working well and where we can improve, so we can keep making our services and gym environment better for everyone.
If you have a few minutes, please share your thoughts using the relevant form below. We appreciate your time and support!
DV Combine Days
Over the past few weeks, we’ve enjoyed taking the Diamond Valley Basketball Association junior representative teams through their performance combine days. It was fantastic to see the athletes bring plenty of effort and commitment to testing, setting a strong foundation for the season ahead. These sessions give players a snapshot of their current performance and help identify areas to work on throughout the season. We’re looking forward to seeing them build on their results as they continue to develop.
Back on the court with Knox and Kilsyth
With the off-season wrapping up, we’re excited to continue our partnerships with the Knox and Kilsyth NBL1 women’s programs for 2027. We’ll be back in the gym with both teams this month, helping the players build strength, fitness and confidence ahead of a big campaign. The pre-season provides a valuable opportunity to build consistency in the gym and prepare for the demands of competition. We’re looking forward to getting to work with the players and coaching staff as preparations get underway.
SRA track sessions
Our Saturday morning track sessions are back, and the group has hit the ground running! The athletes have brought plenty of energy and commitment as they work on their acceleration, top speed and endurance. There’s been a great atmosphere on the track, with everyone encouraging each other and putting in the work together. We’re looking forward to building on this strong start over the coming weeks as athletes prepare for pre-season and their next competition block.
Interested in joining us on the track? Get in touch with the SRA team to find out more.
Total Sessions Leaderboard:
Male:
| Athlete Name | Total Sessions |
|---|---|
| Oliver Coghlan | 18 |
| Harry Burgess | 18 |
| Alier Tong | 18 |
Female:
| Athlete Name | Total Sessions |
|---|---|
| Jess Meldrum | 18 |
| Hailey Leidel | 17 |
| Jasmine Cooper | 14 |
SRA Medical
SRA Medical continues to grow, with Physiotherapist Rushi Patel, Osteopath Emily Stones, Provisional Sports Psychologist Josh Nanninga and Nutritionist Holly Cichowski supporting our athletes and the wider community across health, recovery and performance.
With the off-season underway, it’s also a good opportunity to check in on any lingering niggles or rehabilitation goals. Book an appointment with one of our allied health professionals below.
GYG Athlete of The Month:
| Athlete Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Thomas Kennedy |
TK has worked his way through our Junior Athlete Development Program into our High Performance Program, bringing a great attitude and a drive to improve along the way. He consistently pushes himself in the gym, chasing personal bests and making the most of every session.
It’s been fantastic to see his hard work carry over to the basketball court, with some impressive achievements and recognition through state development opportunities, Well done, TK – we’re excited to see you keep smashing goals! |
| Addison Pongho |
Since joining SRA, Addison has stood out for her commitment and the intent she brings to every session. She takes pride in her training, approaches each exercise with focus and sets a great example for those around her.
Addison is always willing to challenge herself and puts just as much effort into getting the small details right as she does into pushing her limits. well done, Addison! We’re excited to see you continue to grow and work towards your goals. |
A big thank you to Guzman y Gomez (GYG) – the Australian and internationally renowned Mexican cuisine restaurant for proudly endorsing our “GYG Athlete of the Month” award.
Each month, we recognise two athletes who best embody SRA’s core values of Belief, Discipline, and Ownership across the SRA community.
To learn more, visit the following link.
SRA Google Review
If you are enjoying your experience with SRA Sports Therapy, we’d love to hear about it! Leaving a quick Google review helps others find our services and supports our team in continuing to deliver a high-quality service for our athletes. Your feedback means a lot to us and only takes a minute.
Session Milestones:
| 200 Session Club | 300 Session Club |
|---|---|
| Annaliese Driscoll |
Zoe Rakogiannis Kiera Glover |
Athlete News:
| Event | Sporting News |
|---|---|
| Graduation Celebrations | A massive congratulations to Coach Benjamin Galea on graduating his Exercise and Sport Science degree! It’s fantastic to see his hard work and dedication over the past few years pay off. Well done, Ben! |
| ACL Rehab Completion | A huge congratulations to Seb Imson and Eliza Ghosn on successfully completing their ACL rehabilitation! Both athletes have shown incredible commitment and consistency throughout the past 12 months. It’s been great to support them through the process and see their hard work pay off. |
| Aus basketball team | A huge congratulations to SRA athlete Jada Hill on her selection in the Australian Sapphires team for the Under 15 Oceania Cup in Auckland at the end of the month! An exciting opportunity to represent her country – we can’t wait to cheer her on! |
| SRA Rep Tryouts | Congratulations to all our SRA athletes who earned a place in their representative basketball teams following tryouts! It’s great to see your hard work rewarded, and we’re looking forward to supporting you throughout the season ahead. |
| Eastern Coast Challenge | Congratulations to SRA athletes Jasmine Cooper and Fraya Dunn on their selection for the upcoming Eastern Coast Challenge! A fantastic achievement for both athletes – we look forward to following their progress on the court. |
Each month we love sharing experiences and accomplishments of all of our athlete’s journeys.
If you have any news worth sharing as part of our newsletter we would love to hear from you! =
Submit Athlete News and Accomplishments Here
Blogs:
| Blog | Summary |
|---|---|
| Team Warm Ups Tips & Tricks | With team sports returning after the off-season, it’s a great time for coaches and players to establish a warm-up routine that gets the whole team ready to go. This blog shares 12 practical tips to help teams prepare for training and game day, from gradually building intensity and including sport-specific movements to using competitive games to encourage communication and engagement. |
Athlete Interviews:
| Athlete Name | Overview |
|---|---|
| Naomi Mbandu | With basketball preparations underway, we’re revisiting Naomi Mbandu’s story for some inspiration ahead of the season. From college basketball in Miami to playing professionally around the world, Naomi shares the challenges of being away from home, her advice on persevering through setbacks and how the SRA community helped her feel supported and motivated. Her interview is a great reminder of the value of surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to keep improving. |
Directors Summary
The end of the year is fast approaching and as always, it’s all systems go at SRA.
A big congratulations to Seb Imson and Eliza Ghosn on completing their ACL rehabilitation journeys, special mention to SRA Physiotherapist Rushi Patel and Performance Coach Benjamin Galea for their hard work with both athletes. Congratulations to Jada Hill on her Australian Sapphires selection, and all our athletes who earned representative team positions.
It’s also exciting to see our partnerships with Knox, Kilsyth and Diamond Valley continuing to grow, with plenty happening behind the scenes as we prepare for an even bigger 2027.
Finally, I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to complete our feedback survey. We’re always looking for ways to improve, and your input is invaluable in helping us continue to raise the standard.
Thank you again for your ongoing support. Plenty to look forward to!
Shaun Atkins
Director – SRA Sports Therapy
“Dreams > Actions > Results”
The SRA Team