Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated - Life Members
MR. JOHN HEGVOLD
John was the first person to be made a Life Member of the Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated in 1966. He was the first Rockhampton senior men’s player to be selected in a Queensland team in 1962. John played his early basketball with YMCA in the old National Hall before transferring to Panthers club in 1956. John played the rest of the basketball with that club, and is at present club Patron. John was elected Vice-President of the Rockhampton Amateur Basketball Association when it was formed in 1962, and held that position until 1967. John has been a Rockhampton and Queensland selector. He has also served on various committees within the Association as well as coaching teams. He is Patron of the Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated.
MR RAY BENNETT SNR
The late Ray Bennett was made a Life Member of the Association in 1968. Ray, who served with the American forces in the Pacific during World War 2, returned to Rockhampton after the war, marrying and settling in the city. Ray was to the forefront in the early days of basketball in this city, both in a coaching and referring capacity. He was Vice President in 1963, Treasurer 1964, and President of the Association in 1970 and 1971. Ray also served on the committee for a number of years and was always ready to help basketball in any way. Ray’s son Ray Jnr. Was one of the leading basketball players in the city in the 1970’s.
MR BRIAN SMITH
Brian had Life Membership conferred on him in 1970. He commenced playing basketball in Rockhampton in late 1951 in the National Hall with a team called Magpies. He joined Panthers club in 1957, remaining with that club until retiring from the game in 1974. He is a Life Member of Panthers club. He represented Rockhampton and Central Queensland and was captain of the inaugural Queensland Railway Institute team to compete in the Australian Railways Institute carnival in Adelaide in 1967. He was a committee member of the then Rockhampton Men’s Association from 1958 until the Rockhampton Amateur Basketball Association was formed in 1962, becoming of member of the inaugural committee. Secretary of the RABA 1963, 1964; Selector 1965; Treasurer 1966; Vice-President 1968; President 1969; Trustee of RABA 1973 – 1989 when the RABA was Incorporated and became Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated; Chairman of inaugural State League Committee (now ABA) in 1986, 1987, committee member 1988; Secretary of CBA (ABA) committee 1989; Committee member of Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated until 1994; Chairman of ABA COMMITTEE 1998. Brian is still on the committee of the Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated and is Rockhampton’s delegate to the State body for the ABA. He was also involved with the formation and administration of the Central Queensland Zone. Brian has always been heavily involved in the publicity of basketball through the media.
MR EDWARD ARTHUR HEGVOLD
No other person had a greater impact on the game of basketball in this city than the late Eddie Hegvold. Eddie’s interest in the game came through his two sons, John and Paul. Eddie’s support for the game commenced in 1956. He became President in 1964 holding that office until the annual general meeting in 1969 when he stood down and became the Association’s Patron, a position he held until he passed away in 1991. Eddie’s support and development of the game in Rockhampton can never be fully appreciated. He was always looking to improve things and give players and supporters better amenities. An astute business man and brilliant organiser, he was responsible for the designing and having the amenities at the basketball complex constructed. He had the ability to communicate with, and get the best out of people. This was particularly evident in the early days when voluntary labour was required for much of the construction work. Eddie was also Trustee of Rockhampton Basketball from 1973 – 1989. Eddie was made a Life Member of the Association in 1971.
MR BARRIE BRADY
Barrie was given his Life Membership in 1977. No other player in Rockhampton Basketball history has represented his State on more occasions than Barrie Brady. He first played the game in 1961 with the Olympics Club. He transferred to Panthers in 1962, a club he is still playing with today. He is a Life Member of that club. Barrie was first selected to play for Queensland in the Under 18’s in 1963. He represented in the senior side from 1966 – 1971, was named in the State team in 1972 but the team did not compete at the Australian Championships. Barrie was appointed a delegate to the Central Queensland Zone in 1970 and the Rockhampton Association in 1971. He remained on the committee until 1974 when he was elected Vice-President, holding that position until 1979 when he was elected President. Barrie remained as President until 1982. He was elected Vice-President again in 1984, 1985, President 1986 and 1987. He was an association selector from 1971 – 1985. Barrie was also involved in the running of the State League / CBA programme.
MR PETER HOFFMANN
Peter played his basketball in the late 1950’s early ‘60’s with the Diamonds team, which eventually became associated with the Panthers club. Peter remained with Panthers, and, at the end of his playing career, worked hard in an administrative capacity to establish the club. His reward for his hard work within the club was Life Membership. Peter served on the RABA committee from 1965-68; was Vice-President 1969 and 1970; selector 1966-70, 1972-80; Delegate to the Central Queensland Zone 1970; 1971 and 1974-79. For many years Peter coordinated the fixtures and allocated referees. He was heavily involved in coaching both Rockhampton and Central Queensland teams in the junior and senior divisions. Peter’s dedication to the game earned him a Life Membership of Rockhampton Basketball in 1978.
MS LAURA NEWCOMB
Laura was the first woman in Rockhampton to receive a Life Membership of the Association. Laura received her award in 1988. Laura played her early basketball with Panthers before transferring to a club called Medics. She was a committee member from 1975 – 1982 and 1984 – 1988. ‘Pommie’, as she is well known be, worked hard at carnivals and was always ready to give assistance.
MRS CARMEL CAVE
Carmel received her Life Membership in 1988. Carmel played her basketball with Vikings and Panthers Clubs. She first came on a fund raising committee in 1973. The purpose of the committee was to raise funds for the construction of the stadium. Carmel became Secretary of the Association at a difficult time in 1974, holding that position until 1981; was a committee member from 1982-1985; Vice-President 1986 and ’87. She also served a lengthy term as President of the RBI from 1988 until her resignation in November 1997 to take up residence on the Sunshine Coast. Carmel realised that the Association needed a regular cash flow separate from the received from registrations and court fees. With the assistance of Secretary Del Harney, Carmel set up the Rockhampton Basketball bingo which has grown into one of the biggest in the city. There is little doubt that without this bingo programme Rockhampton Basketball would be in dire financial straits. Carmel was also heavily involved in the ABA, as well as being a State Councilor.
MR KERROD MARLER
Kerrod played his basketball with the Vikings club and first came onto the Rockhampton committee in 1966. He was a selector from 1978-1983; became heavily involved in the Central Queensland Zone as Rockhampton’s delegate in 1978 and continued in that capacity for a number of years. He was Association Vice-President 1981, 1982 and President 1983, 1984 and 1985. Kerrod served a long term as Councilor and on the Board of Director for Basketball Queensland, stepping down from that position in 1998. For his services in that period Kerrod was awarded Life Membership of Queensland Basketball. Kerrod has coached several Rockhampton, Central Queensland and Queensland teams. He coached the Rockhampton Rockets in 1989. He is still coaching junior teams. Kerrod was given his Life Membership of the RBI in 1997.
MRS DEL HARNEY
Del, although never playing basketball, is an integral part of the game in Rockhampton. She became involved when her sons played with the Falcons club in the early 1980’s. Del is the longest serving secretary in the history of the RBI, being first elected in 1982 and has carried out the duties of this thankless position more than capably during that period. She has also been heavily involved in the running of RBI’s bingo since day one, and now together with President Con Kyreakou is continuing her good work. It is worth noting that for the amount of hours Del puts in each week, she receives no monetary remuneration. Del received her well deserved Life membership in 1997.
MR FRANK HAACK
Frank commenced playing basketball in the late 1950’s and has been involved in the game ever since. Frank has been a player, coach, referee and official of the association at various periods of his basketball career. Frank played for a number of clubs including Tigers, Panthers and Celtics. He was selected in the Queensland Men’s team in 1963. Frank has been heavily involved in the ABA programme since it’s inception in 1986 and served as Chairman of the committee in 1988. He has also been head coach of the Rockettes and assistant coach of the Rockets. Frank has spent a tremendous amount of his own time in coaching players, both junior and senior, and several top players, including ABA and WNBL in the game today, owe some on their expertise to the coaching of Frank. Frank Haack was given Life Membership of the RBI in 1998.
MR KEN HARMAN
Ken commenced his basketball career in 1963, playing most of his basketball with the Celtics club. He represented Rockhampton and Central Queensland and was selected as a reserve in the State men’s team in 1967. He also represented the Queensland Railway Institute at Australian Railway Carnivals. Ken first became involved in the administrative side of the game in 1968 when he joined the committee of the RABA and continued through to the late 1990’s. Ken also served as a member of the ABA committee for a number of years. He has been an association selector, and was heavily involved in the junior association for eleven years, serving as president for three of those years. Ken, together with Frank Haack, ran coaching sessions for young players over a long period. He was also a competent referee. Ken was another who worked hard in the early days establishing the bingo sessions. Ken’s Life Membership was given in 1998.
MR PETER KEENE
Peter was made a Life Member of the RBI IN 1999. He played his early basketball with All Blues, and was a founding member of the Celtics club in 1965 / 1965. Peter continued with Celtics for some 15 years before retiring from the game. Peter represented Rockhampton and Central Queensland, as well as the Queensland Railway Institute at Australian Railway Carnivals. He was involved in the coaching of juniors, both boys and girls, and in the early days helped form teams from the Neerkol Orphanage to play in the Rockhampton competition. Peer joined the RBI as a club delegate in 1969 and served for a number of years. He has been Chairman of the RBI Judiciary since 1982, and together with Geoff Evans, Peter Egan, Graeme Bloxsom and Andrew Palmer drew up a set of procedures which were submitted to Queensland Basketball and have been accepted in the State policy. Peter, who was an electrician, was involved in the construction of the Stadium. He, together with Geoff Clark, did most of the work on the Stadium’s first electronic scoreboard. It is worth mentioning that the score board functioned for many years, a testimony to the workmanship.
MR WAYNE WRIGHT
Wayne also received his Life Membership in 1999 after a long period of involvement with the junior side of the game. Wayne played for the Toledo club but his time has been devoted to the juniors. Wayne is a Level 2 Fully Accredited Coach with Australian Coaching Council (AIS, Canberra). He has been coaching Rockhampton and Central Queensland junior boys and girls teams at State Championships since 1982 in age groups ranging from Under 14 to Under 20. He has also been involved in assisting the Regional Director of Coaching in running other high level junior training camps. From 1997 to the present Wayne has been the ABA Sponsorship Coordinator, working successfully to raise the sponsorship dollars to make the Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated ABA programme a success. Wayne has also been a committee member of the Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated and ABA for many years.
MRS LYN BLACK
Lyn has been playing basketball in Rockhampton since her junior years. She has been a member of the Rockhampton Basketball committee for a considerable time, serving the Association as it’s Treasurer for the past nine years. She does an excellent job ensuring the finances of the RBI are kept in order. Lyn’s time devoted to this thankless job is purely voluntary. Lyn fully deserves her Life Membership which was given to her in 2000.
MR CON KYREAKOU
Con Kyreakou has been involved in basketball since his children played and came up through the junior ranks. He has always been around to offer help when needed. One year when it was impossible to get a Treasurer Con stepped in and did the job. In 1997 when the then President Mrs Carmel Cave relocated to the south, Con agreed to take the position for 12 months and he is still President here in 2003. Con has worked tremendously hard to keep the QABL league in existence and with it’s own identity. In 2002, Basketball Queensland used the suggestions and ideas that Con put forth. Con has put every effort into obtaining sponsorship and was solely responsible for assisting all the ABA Clubs in Queensland financially in 2001 by obtaining the sponsorship from Bartercard and NQX. Without this monetary assistance a couple of the clubs would not have been able to compete in the league.
Con battled long and hard with the Government and some politicians regarding a second Stadium at the Hegvold Complex. He has his finger on the pulse with all happenings within the senior and junior ranks; is very approachable; and his main focus is the betterment of basketball in Central Queensland and Queensland. Con Kyreakou received his Life Membership in 2001.
MR COREY MUNSON
Corey Munson first came to Rockhampton in 1982 to play with the Panthers Club. He returned to the USA a year later, coming back to Rockhampton in 1985. He was the first captain of the Rockets in 1986 and again the 1989. He was head coach 1987 and 1988. Corey has served on the RBI Committee, is currently coaching teams and has been court announcer at Hegvold Stadium for QABL and association games for a number of years. Corey also promotes the game of basketball at Glenmore High School where he is a teacher, and has a “School of Excellence” for young players. He is also involved in the Junior Association. Corey was made a Life Member of the Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated in 2002.