Meet Gellibrand client Ugur Tank. He loves basketball training, ten-pin bowling, and taking the train to the city. Oh, and he won’t say no to a coffee!
I met Gellibrand client Ugur Tank at Werribee’s Eagle Stadium one Wednesday afternoon. Ugur (pronounced ‘Orr’) was in his blue Wyndham basketball singlet and on the back of it was the 23 made famous by NBA superstar, Michael Jordan. Ugur loves basketball.
“I play here every week,” he said, after he’d finished saying hello and laughing with the other All- Abilities players waiting for the buzzer to go and their session to begin. Ugur sat and we talked while the juniors on court finished their training.
“I’ll have a coffee on the way home, no problem,” he said.
It’s always a good day for Ugur when he can get coffee. He also loves riding on trains to the city whenever he can and he has attended a day program each weekday in Sunshine for 12 years. He loves ten pin bowling every Saturday morning at Oz Ten Pin, Point Cook, where he’s a member. Ugur is also very close with his family.
“Mum’s coming Sunday,” he said. “I’m getting picked up early!”
Gellibrand team member Edwin Bobadilla worked with Ugur, who he calls ‘the gentle giant’, for more than two years. Edwin said Ugur’s confidence to try new experiences had grown in that time.
“He’s out there more, exploring new things and environments,” Edwin said. “He’s also improved his skills in domestic tasks like cooking and home maintenance.”
As mentioned earlier, Ugur said hello to everyone when he arrived at basketball. Edwin said Ugur’s willingness to socialise had been another personal change he had seen in Ugur.
“He’s built confidence to not just be quiet when he sees new people. He’s bubbly!”
As part of his socialising, Ugur enjoys going out on walks to parks in Hoppers Crossing with his housemates, Helen and Maryam. Sometimes, however, he goes further afield.
“I went to Altona Beach and Cherry Lake and I was doing some exercise,” he said, adding that his housemates were both going well. Then the basketball court’s buzzer sounded and it was time for Ugur and his All-Abilities teammates to get out on court.
It was clear Ugur’s training had been paying off: he bounced and moved the ball up the court skillfully. He demonstrated excellent shooting skills, planting himself a couple of meters within the free throw line and, with two hands, throwing the ball towards the backboard. Regularly, it hit the square and tumbled into the net.
“Good training!” Ugur shouted as he scored another two points.
Ugur spent most of the session laughing and smiling, following the coaches’ instructions carefully as he practiced skills such as dribbling and passing to his teammates. But, whenever he could, he snuck off with a ball and set himself up near the free throw line.
Wham! Another two points scored and another shout of “Good training!” from Ugur.
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