2016 BQ Awards Winners | Basketball QLD

On Saturday 20th May 2017 representatives from the Basketball Queensland community came together at it’s annual awards dinner. At this event we celebrate the achievements of individual players, coaches, officials and associations during the previous year and recognise people who, throughout their lives, have given great service to Basketball.

Life Membership – Bill Dethlefs

Bill Dethlefs commenced playing basketball in Cairns in May 1958 and immediately was elected as delegate to the monthly meeting of the Cairns Amateur Basketball Association.

At his first CABA delegates’ meeting, Bill was elected as Treasurer of Cairns Amateur Basketball Association, a position he maintained for the next 13-years until his transfer to Brisbane in 1971. Bill Dethlefs was heavily involved as a hands-on basketball executive within Cairns Amateur Basketball Association, Far North Queensland Zone and Queensland Amateur Basketball Association from 1958 until the mid-1970s. During this time there was a significant overlap within executive responsibilities and activities across all three associations, with each association’s activities impacting directly and indirectly on the others.

Life Membership – Steve Lennon

Steve Lennon came to Brisbane in 1984 from Inverell, in New South Wales. He lived on the North side of Brisbane and joined the West Mitchelton Basketball Club (now North Brisbane Dragons), and coached a junior team.

He returned to Brisbane in 1990, lived on the Southside of Brisbane and joined the Southern Districts Basketball Association where from 1990 he has coached junior teams over the many years till 2016.

An accountant Steve was employed by the DKM group, where today he is Director of Business Activity in their Brisbane office.

In his many years at Southern Districts, Steve has coached many junior teams, as well as an involvement in the administration, and the procurement of sponsorships.

On the coaching side his teams achieved many state championship titles, and as part of that, he was awarded the Southern Districts 25-year award of Senior Coach. In 2011 Steve was the Spartans Under 14 girls coach, and in 2012 he was the Spartans Under 16 Girls coach. Over the many years, this was the areas where Steve coached.

In 2001 Steve was elected as the Financial Director of Basketball Queensland, a position he held till the end of 2008.

Steve was part of a new board in 2008 when Basketball Queensland was fundamentally insolvent, and there were stressful times trying to dig the organisation out of a very deep hole. Steve’s professional management and clear intent to build a strong balance sheet ensured Basketball Queensland had a solid financial base from which to continue to work for our sport. Steve retired in 2008 and has set a high standard for our future financial stewardship. He is a fitting recipient of Life Membership of Basketball Queensland

Male Player of the Year – Aron Baynes (ACCEPTED BY Aaron Fearne)
CAIRNS BASKETBALL

Aron Baynes started playing basketball in Cairns. After a US college career and four years playing in Europe, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2013 and along with fellow Aussie, Patty Mills, secured a NBA championship ring in 2014. He was playing for the Detroit Pistons NBA team in 2016. On 19 March 2016, he scored a career-high 21 points in the Piston’s 115 to 103 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Aron made his debut for Australia in 2009 and has been a regular member of the Boomers since the 2014 World Cup. In 2016 he was a member of the Australian Olympic Basketball Team who were in search of their first Olympic medal and came oh so close being beaten by Spain in the Bronze Medal play- off. Baynes was one of Australia’s standout performers in Rio, scoring 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game while combining with Andrew Bogut to stifle their opponents offence throughout the tournament.

Female Player of the Year – Miela Goodchild
LOGAN BASKETBALL

Miela Goodchild was part of the team representing Logan Basketball that won the 2016 Under 18 Girls State Championships. She was selected to the Under 18 South Queensland State Team that won the silver medal at the Under 18 Girls Australian Junior Championship. Due to her performances at the Australian Junior Championships she was selected to the 17 and Under Australian team that won the 2016 Under World Championship defeating the USA in the grand-final. Miela is a very focused player with a quiet disposition; however, she is extremely competitive when she steps onto the court. Her dedication to training and appetite for improving her skills set her apart from her peers.

Male Coach of the Year – Mark Wrobel
TOWNSVILLE BASKETBALL

Mark Wrobel was the assistant coach of both the Townsville Fire and the Sapphires, the Australian 17 and Under team. The Townsville Fire won the WNBL championship in 2016, beating Perth 2 – 0 in the best of three grand-final series. This was the second successive WNBL championship and their fourth appearance in the WNBL grand-finals in a row. Mark had an outstanding experience as the Assistant Coach to the Sapphires competing at the 2016 FIBA Under 17 World Championship for Women held in Spain. Australia had never finished better than 5th at these championships, but they handed the USA their first ever loss at this championship relegating them to a Bronze medal play-off and went on to beat Italy by 23 points in the grand-final to win the Under 17 World Championships.

Female Coach of the Year – Janelle Bressow
GOLD COAST NORTH BASKETBALL

Janelle was the Head Coach of the 2016 U18 South Girls team that won Silver at the Australian Junior Championships. Janelle is a veteran Queensland State Team Coach having won three Silver medals previously culminating in the Gold in 2015. Janelle is also the Head Coach of the Australian Women’s Deaf Basketball Team, the Geckos.

Male Official of the Year – Carl Roberts
NORTHSIDE BASKETBALL

Carl’s contribution to Qld officials is significant. He is involved in officiating in the QBL and SBL, Northside Wizards referee program director, Referees at multiple associations, educates and mentors referees, predominantly at Northside but assists at other associations, mentors referee coaches, Referee Commissioner at State Championships and the Championship Basketball School of Queensland tournaments.

Female Official of the Year – Maddison Crowley-Long
TOWNSVILLE BASKETBALL

Represented QLD at the Under 18 Australian Junior Championships. Officiated in 17 QBL games in the 2016 QBL season. Committed to the development of junior referees. Assistant Commissioner at the Under 16 Girls State Championships and a referee educator at the Under 14 Boys State Championship. Heavily involved in domestic refereeing at Brisbane Basketball and then Townsville Basketball after moving there during the year.

Administrator of the Year – Greg Vanderjagt
TOWNSVILLE BASKETBALL

In 2016 Greg Vanderjagt, has lead Townsville Basketball to its best year for over a decade with his strong leadership, commitment to members, community engagement and increased sponsor partnerships as well as development of the on-court product through improvements in junior and senior competition. Greg was the guiding force behind Townsville Basketball securing the U18 Nationals & Kevin Coombs Cup in 2017 as well as successfully obtaining grants from Local and State Governments to upgrade facilities at Townsville Basketball to effectively run this National tournament.

Greg’s drive and passion for the continuing development of Townsville Basketball has seen every area of operations increase in numbers and improve in results. There is no doubt that without Greg’s communication of our core values, continuing to convey the importance of members adhering to the code of conduct and his focus on delivering targets in line with the strategic plan, Townsville Basketball would not be in the strong standing they are currently in.

Service to Basketball – Jon Simpson
IPSWICH BASKETBALL

Since 1992 Jon Simpson has worked tirelessly for Ipswich Basketball Association.Jon currently coaches seven club teams, spending 15 hours per week conducting training sessions and coaching at the Ipswich Basketball stadium. Jon is the president of the largest basketball club in Ipswich, Swifts Comments Basketball Club which now has 29 teams. He is also the junior competitions co- ordinator and chair of the junior competitions committee. In addition, in 2016 he took on the role as management committee member and junior competitions delegate.As a school principal, Jon took pride in mentoring and nurturing the many refuges of African heritage who attended his school. Over a ten year period and since retirement, Jon has encouraged these boys to play basketball in Ipswich, personally paying most of costs of registration, club membership, game fees and rep fees for a number of players or arranging sponsorship to cover costs. As a result, our association now has large numbers of players with African heritage from all over the district. Last season, Jon coached an entire team of these players in an U17 division 1 team which reached the semi-finals. Two of the players he has supported are now in Queensland teams and in 2016 another was selected in the U17 Australian squad.

Service to Basketball – Mark Beecroft
CAIRNS BASKETBALL

Mark Beecroft has made an ongoing unequalled contribution to the game of basketball in Cairns, Queensland and Australia.

Today Mark is the CEO of the Cairns Taipans, President of Cairns Basketball, Member of the NBL Commission, Head Coach of the U14 A Division Redlynch Regals.

He has been a player, referee, floor wiper, coach, development officer, committee member, Vice – president, president, administrator, CEO and parent.

Mark’s contribution to Basketball in Cairns and Queensland is second to none as his contribution has been fully committed for over 20 years so far. Mark is a very worthy recipient of the Services to Basketball award.