Feature Week 20: Sporting ambassadors
Jess Bibby
Support for the National Year of Reading isn’t limited to authors and illustrators. A host of sporting stars are helping us to spread the word about the importance of reading. During the 20th week of the National Year of Reading, we feature some of our female sporting supporters from the ACT, Grace Gill, from the Canberra United Football Club, several players from the Canberra Roller Derby League and Jess Bibby from the Canberra Capitals basketball team.
About Jess
Born in Kyabram in Victoria, Jess’s basketball career began as a junior playing with the Dandenong Rangers. She has played over 200 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) games and won several WNBL Championships. Jess has represented Australia in both junior and senior teams. As a senior player, she was selected to play in the American Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Since 2006, Jess has played in the WNBL for the Canberra TransACT Capitals based in Canberra. She is the team captain, wearing number 11 and plays in the guard position. Jess is consistently one of the team’s top scoring players. Somehow she also finds time to coach and play in the Queensland basketball league for Gladstone.
Jess's thoughts on reading and the National Year of Reading
In between training and playing for the Canberra TransACT Capitals, there's nothing I love more than settling in with a good book. For me, reading allows me to escape my busy day to day schedule as well as keeping my mind sharp. A good book is right up there with winning Championships on my list of favourite things to do! I’m excited to be a National Year of Reading ambassador for the ACT.
Jess's reading habits
- Are you a constant reader or are there times when you don't read at all? I always have a book or multiple books on the go....I currently have 3.
- Do you have a favourite genre? Without a doubt my favourites are sports autobiographies an biographies...doesn’t matter what sport!!!
- Which book is by your bedside right now?
I'm currently reading:
- ‘Top spin’, a 90's bio on the professional tennis tour;
- 'The last great game’, an explanation of the how the University of Kentucky and Duke University in the USA put together the teams that played in one of the most memorable games; and
- 'Coach, don’t put me in’, one players retelling of his four year university journey as a non-scholarship player at the University of Ohio.
- ‘Top spin’, a 90's bio on the professional tennis tour;
- Print books, ereader or both? One of my favourite pieces of furniture is my bookshelf...so definitely print books.
- How do you get hold of books? I love libraries!!!....you can find some great old school books...that’s why I also like second hand stores, and for hard to get books Amazon is brilliant.
- What was the last book you borrowed from your public library?
I borrowed the first Harry Potter.....my all time favourite series of books.
- Do your ever cheat and read the end of the book first? Never...but with autobiographies or biographies there are always photos, and I look at them first.
- Did you like to read as a child?
I always loved to read....Secret 7, Famous 5, Babysitters club....and newspapers.
- What author or illustrator has most influenced you?
Definitely JK Rowling....I like to think that i have a vivid imagination, but her's is out of this world.
- Estimate the number of books you own. Not enough! I would have well over 200 and they are some of my most prized possessions. I do need a bigger bookcase though.
Want to know more?
- You can learn more about Jessica’s basketball career on the Canberra Capitals website:
- To see our other featured ambassadors in week 20, select the following links:
- If you want to see the other National Year of Reading ambassadors, go to our ambassadors page.
- Other featured ambassadors can be found on the ambassador feature week listing.
