Basketball NSW had a standout evening at the 2024 Sport NSW Community Awards, held last week at Commbank Stadium. The event, which celebrates outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in New South Wales, saw several Basketball NSW finalists recognised for their exceptional efforts.
The prestigious Awards recognise the significant impact of a largely volunteer workforce dedicated to fostering community sport. Among the accolades, Basketball NSW proudly took home the Award for Inclusion Achievement of the Year for our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
The plan aims to foster respect and awareness of First Nations People and their cultures within the basketball community. Initiatives include partnering with Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) to develop a series of pathways and opportunities for community engagement and development of First Nations People. In July the BNSW x IBA NAIDOC Week 3×3 Basketball Carnivals in Coffs Harbour, Ballina, and Wagga Wagga were a huge success, with 500 youth participating, celebrating their culture and fostering a love for basketball. BNSW is also establishing pathways for Indigenous Australians to represent NSW at the National Indigenous Basketball Tournaments.
In addition to this win, Cooper Ellis was named Young Official of the Year. Cooper has been trusted with officiating a number of finals and premier league matches throughout the NBL East and Basketball NSW seasons in 2023. His most significant achievement was his appointment to officiate the 2023 Basketball Australia U16 National Championships Grand Final. Cooper worked as a referee instructor at the Basketball NSW U12’s Jamboree in Port Macquarie, in addition to this Cooper worked as a referee instructor in junior basketball league competitions as well as being a score table official for his home club the Central Coast Waves.
The evening also highlighted the contributions of individuals who received Distinguished Long Service Awards that included Basketball NSW Hall of Fame Member John Martin being recoginsed. John is a revered figure in Australian basketball, celebrated for his contributions which began in 1969 at NSW Country Basketball and saw him rise through the ranks to be the first FIBA accredited referee in Australia. John has a distinguished referee career including state and national levels and a six-year tenure with the NBL that saw him awarded the Don Hutton Memorial Medal for his services. He has also served at world championships and Olympic events and conducted clinics across Oceania to pave the way for young officials.
We also had two finalists in their award category;
Community Coach of the Year: Tim Hill
Community Team of the Year: U14 Girls Illawarra Hawks
Basketball NSW’s success at the 2024 Sport NSW Community Awards reflects the ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and excellence in the sport. Congratulations to all the award winners and finalists for their remarkable contributions to community sport.
