On Monday morning Bellamy’s Launceston Tornadoes coach Richard Dickel, import Miliakere Koyamainavure and centre, Jayde Brazendale, took gifts to the young patients.

Dickel and the team spent the morning talking with the children about their experiences in the hospital. 

He hoped the visit from the city’s basketball team would “enlighten their day a little”.

“It’s something we should be doing quite a lot because it’s getting into the community and getting the girls to realise that not everybody’s as lucky as they are at points in time, and inspiring people in different ways,” he said. 

“It’s an incredibly lucky privilege to be able to come into a place like this and see these kids that aren’t as well off as we are.” 

Dickel, who took over as head coach in May, said it was vital the team engage with the community.

“We've got to be out there and inspiring young people and getting inspired by people we see,” he said.