Woolloomooloo kids slam dunking thanks to Russell Crowe

"RC here. You'll need some new nets. Have you got a ladder?" 

The text message from Russell Crowe to Rosano Martinez last week was unexpected, but hugely appreciated.

Woolloomooloo local Martinez had approached the 52-year-old Gladiator star in the street a few hours earlier and told him about preparations for the upcoming Woolloomoolivin' festival. 

"I saw him walking down the street one evening and I approached him about what I was doing," Martinez, the festival's organiser, said.

"I knew he was a community-minded guy. So I didn't feel uncomfortable about approaching him."

Martinez mentioned to Crowe that NBL legends would be conducting a basketball workshop for kids on the day. He gave Crowe his card but "didn't expect anything back," admitting he simply thought it was "worth a try".

As it turns out, that "try" paid off.

Just two hours later, Martinez received Crowe's text message. The actor had bought official NBA basketball nets and wanted to help put them up at two different local parks.

"It was quite a spectacle," Martinez said of their re-netting mission, which involved walking from one end of 'Woolo' to the other. 

"Me carrying the ladder, Russell behind me and all our kids walking behind.

"We walked straight through the middle of the hood and everyone's going 'Russell!" and waving at him. And he waves back."

Crowe's two sons Tennyson, 10, and Charles, 12, were on hand to try out the new nets, along with Martinez's three boys, aged 11, 12 and 14.

Crowe even took to Twitter to share his hoop handiwork – captioning his photo "Fresh".

Along with celebrating socioeconomic diversity in the area, Woolloomoolivin' also recognises 'Legends of the Loo' - locals from the area who've gone on to achieve great things, such as Playschool presenter Luke Carroll.

Of the event itself, Martinez said the festival is "100 per cent family friendly". And, most importantly he added, it's 100 per cent free – meaning no one has to miss out.

"There's not much on offer for families without having to spend a squillion," Martinez said, noting that he speaks from experience as a father-of-three.

"We didn't want anyone to feel left out. It's about all of us being here together and celebrating our community.

"We've got screen-printing and a DJ van where you can learn to DJ inside a van. We've got so much on for the kids it's out of control."

Fans will also have the opportunity to meet special guests from the Rabbitohs, Roosters, and Bulldogs.

So, after getting his hands dirty in preparation for Woolloomoolivin', will Crowe be attending the festival?

Martinez said if the actor is in town, he certainly will.

"He's just waiting to see what his schedule is like," Martinez said.

Drug and alcohol free, Woolloomoolivin' it runs from 11 am – 6pm on 3 December - on the corner of Pring St and Dowling St, Woolloomooloo. The family friendly line-up features DJs, a kids' jumping castle and live graffiti. Community service providers including PCYC, Bounce and Save the Children, will also be present to share information about the support and resources available to locals. For more information visit the Woolloomoolivin'' Facebook Page.