Hoops and high-fives

In the heart of Roxby Downs, the Monadelphous basketball team is scoring big—both on the court and in building a strong, connected team culture.  

Initiated by Ben De Laine, the weekly basketball sessions offer employees a chance to step away from the daily grind, with a clear focus on mental health, wellbeing, and team bonding. 

Ben explains that the inspiration behind the sessions is all about “building team culture and looking after mental health and wellbeing by creating a space out of work to enjoy some active time with other departments.”  

With players coming from various branches of Monadelphous, these sessions have become a highlight of the week for many. Helping bring the vision to life, Jamie Miteff, Electrical Supervisor, supported Ben by setting up team registrations and managing the games, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. 

The team’s current record is an impressive eight wins and two losses. 

The popularity of the basketball team has sparked interest in expanding to other sports. Right now, there’s a roster of 19 Monos players committed to weekly practice, with even more people from the community dropping in.  

“Who knows, we may do some other things during the off season,” Ben said.   

And, in true Roxby Downs style, there’s even talk of starting a darts night—which could become the next big hit. 

For Ben, one of the main perks of running these sessions is the chance to connect with colleagues outside of the usual work setting.  

“It helps me stay active and get to know my work mates on a more social level,” he said. 

It’s this relaxed, supportive environment that keeps people coming back and encourages new faces to join in. 

Getting involved is as simple as spreading the word.  

“Anyone who is involved often spreads the word around,” Ben explains, adding that they have a WhatsApp group to keep everyone up-to-date on game nights and player availability.