Lily & Dot turns green ahead of JackJumpers must-win clash

Businesses across Tasmania are going green as our state’s NBL team battles it out in finals, including one local shop owner who is a massive JackJumpers fan.

Katinka Dineen of Lily & Dot in Hobart midtown has dressed up her window in support of the Tasmania Jackjumpers ahead of their game against the New Zealand Breakers. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A local business supporting a local team.

It’s a fitting match and one Tasmania JackJumpers foundation member and small business owner Katinka Dineen is proud to be a part of.

The owner of midtown Hobart’s Lily & Dot gift store is one of a number of Tasmanian businesses that has embraced the call to ‘Paint the Town Green’ ahead of the JackJumpers do-or-die matchup with the New Zealand Breakers at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night.

“As a foundation member I’ve been a fan since day one and it’s a great opportunity for small businesses like mine to engage with customers who are also fans,” Mrs Dineen said.

“We are a store that has a lot of Tasmanian made gifts so to support a Tasmanian made team is a great fit.”

Katinka Dineen of Lily & Dot in Hobart midtown has dressed up her window in support of the Tasmania Jackjumpers ahead of their game against the New Zealand Breakers. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The JackJumpers host the Breakers in game two of their three game series with the NBL’s newest franchise requiring a win to keep their championship dreams alive.

Mrs Dineen said that she had decorated the store in green multiple times throughout the last two seasons but tried to be more creative on each occasion.

“We try to do something different each time so this time rather than just writing ‘Go JackJumpers’ on the window we have got a big sign that says ‘Grit and Grind’ which is one of coach Scott Roth’s favourite slogans,” she said.

“As a small-business owner that ethos really resonates with me because day in and day out you have to turn up and do the work and that’s what’s working for the JackJumpers.”

Lily & Dot in midtown Hobart decorated to support the Tasmania JackJumpers. Picture: Lily & Dot

While she says she would “probably faint” if she met her favourite player Jack McVeigh, Mrs Dineen has in fact experienced her own brush with JackJumpers fame late last year.

“Lorie and Dene (Roth), Scott’s wife and daughter, came in and shopped over Christmas. They were just delightful, down to earth people and I think Tasmania really suits them because they are just authentic, lovely women and we had a great chat,” Mrs Dineen said.

“I actually bumped into them at the Taste and Dene introduced me to Scott. I was really nervous and shy but straight away he knew I was from the shop they had been telling him about.”

Mrs Dineen will be in attendance at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night with her favourite part about attending games the proximity to the court and the noise of the crowd.