Greg Burke wins literacy award
Greg Burke & John Dooley

Greg Burke was this year's winner of the Superior Propane Literacy Award. John Dooley of Superior Propane presented the award to Greg.

Greg Burke is a Level 3 learner in the Avalon Educational System at St. Mary's, St. Mary's Bay. He received the Superior Propane Literacy Award. This award is presented to an outstanding adult basic education student. The award was presented during last summer's annual Peter Gwozske Invitational Golf Tournament. The tournament is held to raise money for literacy.

Frederick Power is Greg's instructor. He says, "Greg has been a positive influence on other learners around him because he is so interested."

Greg has been attending classes for more than a year. He is also studying a carpentry course through the International Correspondence School. Greg also plans to enroll in part-time courses through Memorial University.

Greg finished school in 1972 with a Grade 8 education. "I left school to go to work at the St. Mary's fish plant," says Greg. "I worked at a variety of jobs such as plant maintenance, carpentry, truck driving and heavy equipment operating. I thought my future here was guaranteed. But I was like so many other plant workers when the cod moratorium was announced in 1992. I was out of a job with no secure picture in sight. I was faced with many obstacles and challenges. What was I going to do to secure a livelihood for myself and my family? I realized I had a limited education and I knew education was what I needed to pursue any type of career."

Greg enrolled in an ABE program in May 1994. "Once I had this I knew I would begin to focus on a career," he says. "I knew I would be interested in a career involving drafting or architecture. It has been my life-long dream, and now I have the opportunity to get it."

Pro basketball comes to Canada

Man with a basketballThe game of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith. He was a Canadian. Dr. Naismith worked as a physical education teacher at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dr. Naismith wanted to invent a game that could b played inside during the winter. He used a soccer ball and tacked two peach baskets to a wall. His class played the first game in December 1891. Players would throw the ball into the peach baskets. Someone would climb a ladder and remove the ball. Later, a small hole was cut in the bottom of each basket. A broom handle was used to pop the ball out.

Metal hoops replaced the wooden baskets in 1893. Net bags were tied to the hoops. The referee would pull a cord to let the ball drop out. In 1894 backboards were added. A larger ball replaced the soccer ball. Nets with open bottoms were first used in 1913.

New rules have been added to the game of basketball. The first professional league began in 1898. It lasted for five seasons. Other professional basketball leagues were started. In 1949 the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League joined together. They formed the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The NBA has 27 teams playing in the United States. Two Canadian teams were added this year. They are the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies. They will play such teams as the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers.

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