WheelKings and Australian Gliders coach Gerry Hewson was tonight awarded life membership of the National Wheelchair Basketball League. Gerry has played and/or coached in every season of the NWBL since its inception in 1988.

In a ceremony at the half-time interval of the West Sydney Razorbacks versus Perth Wheelcats match, Gerry received his award along with fellow nominees Errol Hyde and Michael Callahan. All 3 share a wheelchair basketball history that pre-dates the NWBL when they represented NSW together in the mid-eighties. All 3 are Paralympians and Australian representatives many times over. All 3 are avid promoters of Australian wheelchair basketball and it was fitting that they receive the award together.

Gerry was nominated for the award by NWBL committee member and Razorbacks wheelchair basketball president Rob McGarrity. They had formed a strong friendship when Gerry coached the Razorbacks for 3 seasons from 2004 to 2006. Apart from winning 2 championships as a player with the WheelKings (then named Sydney Comets) in 1996 and 1999, Gerry won 2 championships in 2004 and 2005 as coach of the Razorbacks. He was also a regular member of the NWBL's Allstar 5 throughout his playing career.

Since playing for the Sydney Cobras for the first 5 years of the league and then forming the Pepsi Rollers in 1993 - the club that would eventually become the WheelKings - Gerry has left an indelible mark on the NWBL. He is thoroughly deserving of the award, NWBL Life Member.