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Celebrating Achievements and Great Service in Basketball
On Saturday 25th May 2019 representatives from the Basketball Queensland community came together at its 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.
SERVICE TO BASKETBALL – ALLAN LADEWIG
Allan Ladewig has been involved in basketball for over 45 years, with his commitment to the sport recognised in 2000 when he received the Australian Sport Medal for his contribution to the nation’s sporting success. Over this period of his involvement Allan has been President of Basketball Queensland; coached and managed numerous junior association teams to Queensland and National titles, been instrumental in the establishment of wheelchair basketball in Queensland and coached Masters teams at the World Games. Allan is committed to ensuring any child who wanted to play basketball could play, regardless of the family’s economic situation.
SERVICE TO BASKETBALL – CHRIS RIDEOUT
Chris Rideout has been a significant contributor to South West Metro basketball since it began in 1997. She has dedicated her time at both club and association level and has been a driving force in the success of the Pirates. Often an unseen backroom worker, Chris spends many hours conducting participation programs and the Junior and Senior competition draws to satisfy the growing numbers that South West Metro Basketball has experienced in recent years. Chris has held roles as club president (20 years), club delegate (4 years) and Participation and Competition Manager for over 5 years. Additionally, Chris’ accreditation as a Level 3 scoretable person enabled her to volunteer at both the Sydney Olympics and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
MALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – KODY STATTMANN
Kody Stattmann has been a member of the Cairns Basketball affiliated All Stars Basketball Club since he was 8 years old and has played his entire junior basketball career at Cairns Basketball. He has represented Cairns at Regional and State Championships since he was 10 years old and represented Queensland North since the age of 14. Kody was extremely successful during 2018, culminating in him commencing a scholarship at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Kody’s success as a player to date has been as a result of his dedication and hard work to reach the highest possible level of his chosen sport, Basketball.
In 2018, Kody was selected in the Australian U19 team for the World Championships, making him the 6th Cairns Basketball junior to be selected to represent Australia.
FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – JESSICA MCDOWELL-WHITE
Jess McDowell-White had an exceptional year in 2018. She won the gold medal for Under 21 Basketball Queensland Junior Basketball Competition representing Southern Districts, was starting point guard for Queensland team at the Under 20 Australian Championships where her team won the silver medal. Jess was instrumental in Southern Districts’ back to back QBL Championship, her second one in two years. In game 2 of the Grand Final Series, she had 17 points and 9 rebounds. Topping off a sensational year, Jess was selected for the Australian Gems squad and received a scholarship to Eastern Washington University, a division one NCAA college, where she is living currently.
The McDowell-White family is heavily invested in Southern Districts basketball and Jess is one of 8 children who are always at the stadium whether she is playing, training, refereeing, coaching or working in the canteen.
FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR – CLAUDIA BRASSARD
In 2018, every program Claudia Brassard participated in was a great success. Claudia was the Head Coach of the Townsville Fire who won the 2017/18 WNBL championship. Claudia then served as Assistant Coach the Men’s QBL team who won the 2018 QBL Championship. Additionally, Claudia was selected as an assistant coach for the Australian Under 19 Gems that won the Bronze medal at the Asia Cup.
MALE COACH OF THE YEAR – MIKE ST-MAURICE
Mike displayed a highly professional approach to coaching throughout 2018 and this was evident in his success throughout the year. Mike led the Under 16 North Girls State Team to a Bronze medal – the first medal for a QLD North Under 16 Girls team. He was also the head coach of the Under 18 Townsville Girls team that won the Queensland State Championships. Mike then lead the Townsville Flames to a QBL Minor premiership and featured in the Grand Final series. Unsurprisingly, Mike’s success has not gone unnoticed and he has recently received an invite to the Australian Development Camp (ADC).
FEMALE OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR – RHONDA GRIFFIN
Rhonda is a life member of Southern Districts Basketball Association and a scoretable official. Rhonda started scoring as a junior in the ACT where everybody had to score or referee. She joined the Spartans scoring team about 12 years ago and achieved her level 2 accreditation in 2012 with the goal of going to the Commonwealth Games. This goal was achieved when she represented Australia on the scoretable at the recent Commonwealth Games. Rhonda has scored 2 seasons of WNBL and 3 seasons of NBL, in 2018 she was predominately the chairperson. In addition, she has also completed 3 seasons scoring the National Wheelchair Basketball League and Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League, in 2018 she was the coordinator. Rhonda is passionate about building a scoretable community, presents level one scoring courses and willingly volunteers for many other activities.
MALE OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR – DARRELL MILLARD
Darrell is a consistent contributor to referee development at both a senior and junior level, as well as one of Queensland’s best referees in his own right. He utilises his refereeing knowledge as well as his background in education to go above and beyond in his efforts to make the next generation of referees the best yet, through both on-court mentoring and through his roles our official programs and pathways. Under his tutelage, 5 members of the QBL Accelerated Referee Program debuted in 2018 and the program continues to move from strength to strength.
In 2018, Darrell served as the Under 18 Division 1 Referee Commissioner – coordinating the rostering and education of referees at Basketball Queensland’s most prestigious junior event. Darrell was also the QBL Accelerated Referee Program Manager – facilitating the development and growth of the next generation of QBL referees in an elite-standard program. The QBL Men’s Grand Final was refereed by Darrell and he worked with the BQJBC Flying Squad – where he provided development support to association referee coordinators and referees.
LIFE MEMBER – DENIS RUSSELL
Denis Russell has been involved in Townsville Basketball for over 30 years and is recognised as a driver of the growth and the emergence of Townsville Basketball as one of the major basketball associations in Queensland. Denis was largely responsible for the formation of the Townsville Fire in the WNBL in 2001-2002 which has been recognised by the introduction of the Denis Russell Commitment to Excellence Award.
At a state level, Denis was a Basketball Queensland Board member for many years, during which time he was strongly involved in the formation of the QBL. Denis was a strong advocate for policies and programs that supported regional centres, notably Basketball Queensland entering two teams (North and South) in the Australian Under 16 and Under 18 Championships.
In recognition of his high level of involvement in the advancement of basketball in Queensland over a span of more than 40 years, Denis has been awarded Life membership by Cannons Basketball Club & Life Membership of Townsville Basketball. He has also been recognised as Administrator of the year by both Basketball Queensland and Basketball Australia and tonight we are delighted to welcome him to the ranks of Basketball Queensland Life Member.
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR – TREVOR LIDSTONE
Trevor, through his enthusiasm and member-based service outlook, has led a quiet transformation program to overcome disunity and disharmony in the association. This has resulted in a culture where key stakeholders are positively engaging with the association and sharing the attitude that “together we can do better”. In addition, to this important cultural shift, Trevor has promoted and engaged the use of external providers to assist the executive and board to create and deliver a new strategic plan supported by a sensible, but ambitious, business plan. Trevor has demonstrated foresight and leadership to implement change in how Brisbane Basketball engages with referees through increased coaching and development feedback at all levels. Furthermore, based on Trevor’s advice the board invested in the game video system “glory league” which has enhanced the enjoyment and engagement of the basketball community at Brisbane Basketball.
VINCE HICKEY AWARD WINNER – TOWNSVILLE BASKETBALL
Townsville wins the Vince Hickey Award for Champion Association across the 2018 State Championships. It’s Townsville’s first Award since 2010 and their 10th since its inception in 1990 which puts them on top of the all-time leader board with the most Vince Hickey Awards. Townsville were dominant in 2018, winning the Under 16 Boys and Girls on the Gold Coast, the Under 18 Girls on the Sunshine Coast and the Under 14 Boys at home.
Cairns finished as runner up for the Award after winning for the past two years. Southern Districts were also consistent across each age group finishing third in the tally.
ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR – GOLD COAST BASKETBALL
GOLD COAST has been an excellent all-around performer throughout 2018 both on and off the court. They have grown their registered members, excelled in strategic planning, financial management and governance and have built excellent players and coach development programs.
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