Bairstow sad to leave AIS Women’s Basketball program

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach, Nikki Bairstow has decided to return home to Townsville and resume her teaching career in 2007.

Bairstow came to the Institute from Townsville in January 2005 as a Scholarship Coach before being appointed as AIS Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach in October 2005.

Bairstow said the decision to leave the AIS following two wonderful years had been an extremely difficult one.

‘This has been a very difficult and emotional decision for me,’ Bairstow said.

‘There is never a good time for this type of decision, but it is important I make the transition back to teaching, to give myself every opportunity of achieving my goals.’

‘During my time at the Institute I have had the privilege of working with top class coaches in Phil Brown, Dean Kinsman and Patrick Hunt.’

‘This experience has been personally and professionally valuable to me and something I will never forget.’

AIS Women’s Basketball Head Coach, Dean Kinsman said he was saddened to see Bairstow leave the Institute.

‘Nikki has made a huge sacrifice over the past two years taking leave without pay from her teaching profession,’ Bairstow said.

‘Her background has been invaluable in assisting athletes with many aspects of their lives.’

‘We wish Nikki all the best and thank her for her commitment and dedicated application to the various roles she fulfilled whilst at the AIS.’

AIS Director Professor Peter Fricker acknowledged the outstanding contribution that Bairstow had made to the AIS Women’s Basketball program and wished her all the best in her teaching endeavours.

Contact: David Packwood, AIS Media Officer Tel: 02 62141476 / 0408 417894

*The AIS is a major division of the Australian Sports Commission.