OUR BLACK BASKETBALL HISTORY

 

 

 

 

 

The Aboriginal Advancement League was founded in 1957 as the Victorian Aborigines Advancement League (VAAL), is the oldest Aboriginal rights organisation in Australia still in operation. Its precursor organisations were the Australian Aborigines League and Save the Aborigines Committee, and it was also formerly known as Aborigines Advancement League (Victoria), and just Aborigines Advancement League.

The Victorian Aborigines Advancement League (VAAL) was established in March 1957, partly in response to an enquiry by retired magistrate, Charles McLean, who had been appointed in 1955 to investigate the circumstances of Aboriginal Victorians. McLean was critical of conditions in the Aboriginal reserves at Lake Tyers and Framlingham. McLean recommended that persons of mixed Aboriginal and European descent be removed from the reserves. The people of Lake Tyers objected to this, and the League was formed out of their campaign.

The new League drew from two already existing organisations, the Australian Aborigines League, established in 1934 and the Save the Aborigines Committee, established as a response to the Warburton Ranges controversy in 1956–7. Founding President of the League was Gordon Bryant, with Doris Blackburn as Deputy President, Stan Davey as Secretary and Douglas Nicholls as Field Officer.

The Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs was established in December 1964 to provide assistance to Aboriginal people living in Sydney. Although it was originally intended as a non-political and non-religious organisation, it soon became an important steppingstone in the push towards community-control within Sydney’s Aboriginal community.

The ‘Foundo’ helped with housing, employment, education, welfare, and legal, medical, and financial assistance. It was administered by Aboriginal people including Charles Perkins, Chicka Dixon, Phillip Hall, and Ken Brindle, but non-Aboriginal people were also involved in its operations and helped with fundraising events including dances.

The Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs bought a building at 810–812 George Street for its headquarters, which was officially opened in October 1966 by Eric Willis, then the Chief Secretary of NSW. The organisation folded in 1977 due to a lack of funding and a general shift towards Aboriginal-run and administered organisations.

The 2 organisations in constant consultation because Melbourne & Sydney had been facing the same difficulties of a lot of Aboriginals were coming to the cities to find work. The sports they were playing was AFL (VIC-Fitzroy Stars), Rugby League (NSW-Redfern All Blacks) & Basketball (NSW-Redfern-Alexandria Basketball Stadium) & (VIC- Fitzroy Melbourne Blacks) in the 1960’s & 70’s.

In 1970’s the National Aboriginal Sports Council chaired by Charles Perkins the manager of The Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs; Phillip Hall & staff help create opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to access sports including the first National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards.

Sydney

The choice of venue for Aboriginals in Sydney to play basketball was Alexandria Basketball stadium, now called Sydney Basketball Association on Maddox Street in Alexandria. There were teams from Cowra, Walgett, Dubbo, Redfern.

In 1973, the administrators of Alexandria Basketball Stadium & consultation with Paratell players help select the 1st women’s Aboriginal state Basketball team called Maleekas to represent NSW/Sydney, comprising players from Cowra, Walgett, Dubbo, Redfern, Townsville.

The team was comprised of

• Anne Coe
• Jenny Coe/Munro
• Isabel Coe
• Beverly Coe
• Stella Pryor
• Alana Doolan
• Monty Pryor – Coach

They travelled to Melbourne for the 1st National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships in Melbourne hosted by the Aboriginal Fitzroy community.

Melbourne

In 1973 the 1st National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships & Women’s Championships were held in Melbourne in consultation with the Fitzroy community.

Teams selected from Sydney (NSW), Brisbane (QLD), Darwin (NT) & Melbourne (VIC) called Melbourne Blacks with a total of 4 teams.

After the championships were completed the First ever National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women’s Basketball team & National Team was selected, Head Coach was Monty Pryor from Townsville (QLD) to tour Internationally for the first time to New Zealand to create pioneering history for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball in Australia.

Brisbane

In 1988 the 2nd National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships were held in Brisbane produced by Danny Morseu who played in the Australian Olympic team & for the Brisbane Bullets in the National Basketball League. Queensland Men’s team beat the Victorian Men’s team to take the gold medal First National Men’s Champions & the Victorian Men’s team come second with the silver medal.

After the championships were completed, the 1st Men’s & 2nd Women’s National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball teams were selected to tour in 1988 to Canada & United States from November 19th to December 5th, beginning in Vancouver & ending in Los Angeles, creating history by playing the National Native American Men’s & Women’s Indian Basketball Teams & division 2 Colleges, pioneering Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball. The Men’s team was coached by Danny Morseu from Thursday Island & managed by Les Turner former Sydney Kings Head Coach.

Below is a picture of the Men’s 1st National Basketball Team in 1988, Sam Mills, Neil Hardwood, Darryl Seden, Hassan Binthal, Morris Cloury, Dixie Patten, Aron Sebasio, Ollie Flanigan, Sammy Mills, Ken Jose, Robert Baldwin, Danny Morseu (Coach/Player), Les Turner (Manager/Player).

Player Dixie “Qway” Patten a Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa Dhuroura man from Barmah Region in Victoria said “it was an honour to play for his people & community against the National Native American Men’s Basketball Team on our Tour in 1988.

1988 First Victorian Men’s Rep Basketball Team & Silver Medal for 2nd Place at the 2nd National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships in Brisbane in February of 1988. Bill Muir was Head Coach & players Dixon Patten, Charles Williams, Eric Egan, Les Bamblett, Ricky Baldwin, Robbie Baldwin, Shane Charles, Allan Brown was the Team Manager, Mark Williams, John Egan, David Archibald, Cain Muir, James Atkinson.

 

Sydney

In 2006 the 1st National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Sydney at NSW States Sports Centre in Homebush produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.

Perth

In 2007 the 2nd National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Perth at Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.

Darwin 2007 Arafura Games

The 3rd National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Men’s Basketball team was selected by National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association to compete at the Darwin 2007 Arafura Games. The team played against Japan, Australian Defence Force, Northern Territory, Queensland.

The team made into the semi-finals Game to win the Bronze Medal, the players Lindsay Munro (Captain), Leslie Coe, Nathan Peckam, Dean Peachey, Thomas Coe, Kevin Alberts, Nikita Ridgeway (National Team Manager), Stephen Ridgeway Jnr (National Men’s Head Coach).

Darwin

In 2008 the 3rd National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Darwin at Darwin Basketball Stadium produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.

Cairns

In 2009 the 4th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Cairns at Cairns Basketball Stadium produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.

Melbourne

In 2010 the 5th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Melbourne at Melbourne State Sports Centres produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.

Tahitian 2010 Basketball Tournament in Papeete

In 2010 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association selected the 4th Men’s & 3rd Women’s National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Teams to tour & compete at the Tahitian Basketball Tournament in Papeete. The teams played against local Tahitian teams. 

Kevin Alberts was the Coach/player stepped in for Stephen Ridgeway Jnr (National Men’s Head Coach) could not make it because of prior association commitments. Nikita Ridgeway was the National Team Manager for both teams in 2010 & 2011.

Adelaide

In 2011 the 6th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Adelaide at Starplex Basketball Stadium produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.

Tahitian 2011 Basketball Tournament in Papeete

In 2011 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association selected the 5th Men’s & 4th Women’s National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Teams to tour & compete at the Tahitian Basketball Tournament in Papeete. The teams played against local Tahitian teams. The men’s team was successful winning the tournament in 2011. 

Kevin Alberts was the Coach/player stepped in for Stephen Ridgeway Jnr (National Men’s Head Coach) could not make it because of prior association commitments. Nikita Ridgeway was the National Team Manager for both teams in 2010 & 2011.

Hobart

In 2012 the 7th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Hobart at Hobart Basketball Stadium produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.

Canberra

In 2013 the 8th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, were held in Canberra at Australian Institute Basketball Stadium produced by Australia’s first Incorporated National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, based in Sydney.