Basketball has been in the Mill Park resident’s veins since he first started playing at age 12 and for everything he has got out of the game, he has put plenty more back in.

Originally a player at Coburg­, Hughes was a founding member of the Whittlesea City Basketball Association in 1992 and has spent countless hours at Mill Park Basketball Stadium ever since.

The 58-year-old started out as referee manager but was quickly pushed into the role of chairman of the association­.

He went on to fill roles as vice-president and treasurer before again taking back the role of chairman which he still holds today.

But it has not just been committee work which Hughes­ has undertaken. He has served as a referee for the association and has had numerous coaching roles.

When you add it all up, it is little wonder he was recently recognised by Basketball Victoria with the Allan Ashe Memorial Award for Volunteer of the Year.

“The secretary of the association­ asked me a little bit about my history but at the same stage we were talking a little bit about merit awards so I was just thinking of that type of thing, I wasn’t thinking of the award I got,” Hughes said.

“But it was a nice surprise.

Hughes said he was proud of what the association had been able to build and particularly its family atmosphere. “We try to instil that it’s a family club and try as best we can to encourage people to play the sport and enjoy it in a safe environment,” he said.

“There is a lot of people that come from other clubs that say it has a different feel so to get that kind of feedback is really good.”

Hughes’ own family is no stranger to the association.

The family home is within walking distance to the stadium, where Hughes’ wife Pam also works as an administrator­.

The pair have four children who have all played at Whittlesea — three of whom are still involved with the club. Brendan plays in the Pacers’ Big V State Championship men’s team, Sharyn is part of the Pacers’ Big V State Championship men’s team and Paul coaches the Youth League 1 men’s side with a little help from his dad.

David and Pam’s other son Matthew is now coaching at Eltham.

“I think that’s the nice thing about basketball, it can be a bit of a family sport,” Hughes said.

David Hughes is eligible to be a Whittlesea Leader services to sport sports star nominee.

To nominate a sports star, presented by Sportsmart, visit leadernews.com.au/sportsstar