Spurs’ Patty Mills Spends NBA All-Star Break Helping with Bushfire Recovery in Australia

Josh Martin, Feb 19, 2020
Posted in Features

The 2019-20 NBA season is set to resume on Thursday, and while many of the league’s players were either celebrating in Chicago, kicking back in the Bahamas or both, San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills was busy touring the Australian state of New South Wales to donate supplies and support those affected by the country’s recent rash of bushfires. At every stop, the 31-year-old Canberra native documented his journey on Instagram and Twitter.

With his wife, Alyssa, in charge of organizing the trip, Patty began by stopping into a Bunnings Warehouse store to purchase everything from water and non-perishable food to batteries, generators, portable stoves and torches—all while encouraging his followers to “Support local” businesses.

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The Australian fires are leaving an unprecedented amount of devastation. ⠀⠀ While I’ve continued to stay focused on court, my heart has been in Australia. ⠀⠀ Generators, torches, portable stoves, batteries, water, non-perishables: In addition to funds, these are some of the items that the impacted communities need. Now, more than ever, these people need our business. Support local. ⠀⠀ #Australiaisburning

A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat) on Feb 14, 2020 at 5:40pm PST

The Millses then delivered those goods to residents in the small towns of Mogo, Wallaga Lake and Cabargo. Patty and Alyssa also connected with members of the Australian Defense Force who were passing through.

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Today was heavy. ⠀⠀ We visited three country towns in New South Wales, massively effected by the wildfires. ⠀⠀ In Mogo, a small heritage town on the South Coast of NSW, we gave back to locals who have lost their homes, businesses and schools. We also spent time with ADF (Australian Defense Force) as they were passing through. ⠀⠀ We then trekked to Wallaga Lake to build SOURCE Hydropanels to provide clean drinking water for a small Aboriginal community. ⠀⠀ And finally, we ended the day in Cabargo for an opportunity to listen and learn. A local family welcomed us into their home and shared their devastating reality. ⠀⠀ My observation? These people are incredibly resilient and their spirits are through the roof. ⠀⠀ We contributed to Cabargo’s relief centre but once again, it is basketball that has brought us together. ⠀⠀ #australiaisburning

A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat) on Feb 15, 2020 at 12:42am PST

The couple subsequently paid a visit to WIRES Wildlife Rescue in East Lynne, where they spent time with some of the animals who were saved from Australia’s latest natural disaster. All told, the bushfires were estimated to have killed over one billion wild animals and injured many more.

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Over a billion animals are estimated dead and many more injured and affected in Australia. It’s hard to comprehend this staggering figure and harder to put into words how heavy a loss this is to our country. ⠀⠀ Today, we visited an animal sanctuary funded by WIRES, the largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity in Australia. Run by a husband-wife team, this sanctuary currently cares for kangaroos, wombats, wedge-tailed eagles and many other animals who narrowly escaped the fires - many with life-threatening injuries. I'm blown away by the generosity and spirit of this couple and other gracious volunteers. A great reminder that one family or person can have such an incredible impact on the life of another, while still working a full time job.

A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat) on Feb 16, 2020 at 5:54pm PST

Patty continued to promote local businesses when he and his crew popped into Martin’s Orchard. There, they purchased two tray beds of fresh nectarines, which they later gave to young students in the town of Nowra.

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Small business, big impact. ⠀⠀ "How can I help?" is one of the most common questions people ask me when talking about the Australia fires. ⠀⠀ A simple answer is: Shop local. ⠀⠀ The bush fires have severely affected tourism in smaller cities of Australia. The best thing you can do to help these communities is visit them, stay in local hotels, eat at family-owned restaurants and shop local stores. Today we stumbled upon Martin's Orchard on the side of the road as we were driving up the coast. ⠀⠀ Two lovely women were standing inside a little roadside shed selling what they had left of nectarines for the season. ⠀⠀ So we kindly asked if we could purchase everything they had and loaded two tray beds of fresh, tasty nectarines. After some very heartfelt hugs, we kept it moving. ⠀⠀ As we passed through Nowra, we dropped the nectarines off at a local school that just got out for an afternoon snack. ⠀⠀ #spendwiththem #sharewiththem

A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat) on Feb 17, 2020 at 5:45pm PST

On the way to Lake Conjola, Patty, Alyssa and company visited Morton, a small country town in New South Wales’ South Coast region. In Morton, they met the Condies, who did their best to battle the blazes but ultimately had to flee for their lives.

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This is Morton. A small country town in the South Coast region of New South Wales that got absolutely destroyed by the fires. ⠀⠀ While driving to Lake Conjola, we passed Wheelbarrow Road, where our new friend Maddie Condie lived with her parents and brother. ⠀⠀ She wanted us to hear her story. ⠀⠀ Maddie and her entire family stayed and tried to fight the fire themselves, alone. The wrath of the fire became so physically unbearable that Maddie and the rest of her family had to leave. Her dad stayed for another 20 minutes by himself, never wanting to give up. He barely escaped as the fire took control of the house and wiped everything out. (He is thankfully ok.) ⠀⠀ The Condies lost 15 acres of land in the wildfires - along with countless animals, their home, photographs and many other valuables. ⠀⠀ While difficult to watch, I'm showing you this video so you can see with your own eyes what the people of Australia are going through. An important reminder for all of us to find appreciation for everything we have. Nothing (and no one) is guaranteed tomorrow. ⠀⠀ Please show the town of Morton some love in any way possible, as well as the many other small country towns that may not be getting the help and support they need.

A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat) on Feb 18, 2020 at 11:14am PST

Back in Mogo, the Millses spent some time bullwhipping with the proprietors of Roman Leathergoods and Repairs, whose new location was destroyed by the bushfires.

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Better together (in leather). ⠀⠀ Hard to believe this roadside leather goods stand was - up until December - an iconic building in Mogo for nearly 20 years. ⠀⠀ After moving to a new location for only 4 months, the bushfires wiped out Roman Leathergoods and Repairs - demolishing a family business and over a million dollars in product. ⠀⠀ The family behind this business is incredible - and their leather goods are QUALITY. We left with leather woven bracelets for everyone on our Team, bags and even a leather bullwhip! ⠀⠀ Swipe to see the legendary OG location, plus a little lesson in bullwhipping from the owner man himself. Whipping the Good Vibes around with my new leather bullwhip. ⠀⠀ #spendwiththem #sharewiththem

A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat) on Feb 18, 2020 at 3:05pm PST

To close out the trip, Patty’s crew returned to Nowra to meet with fire practitioners from Firesticks, an environmental conservation organization.

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On our last and final day of All-Star break, we met leading Fire Practitioners of an environmental conservation organization - Firesticks. ⠀⠀ We sat on the rocks at a lookout overlooking the land and the Shoalhaven River as Fire Practitioners introduced themselves as Traditional Custodians of the region we were currently in. ⠀⠀ We listened. ⠀⠀ They told us knowledge about the land we were on. ⠀⠀ We listened. ⠀⠀ They told us knowledge about the wildlife on the land we were on. ⠀⠀ We listened. ⠀⠀ They told us knowledge about all the information that is sitting on and within the land. ⠀⠀ We listened. ⠀⠀ They told us about the impact that this devastation has had on the country’s past and the terrifying effects it has made for our future. ⠀⠀ And we heard. ⠀⠀ A connection was made with our team (that included people from all walks of life). The next thing we knew, we all were heading deep into the bush with our new family. ⠀⠀ #spendwiththem #sharewiththem

A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat) on Feb 18, 2020 at 11:27pm PST

Now, Patty will head back to the United States. And while he and the Spurs will have to refocus ahead of their matchup against fellow Australian Joe Ingles and the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Friday, Patty will surely have home in his heart and on his mind as much as ever.

Josh Martin is the Editorial Director of CloseUp360. He previously covered the NBA for Bleacher Report and USA Today Sports Media Group, and has written for Yahoo! Sports and Complex. He is also the co-host of the Hollywood Hoops podcast. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.