Congratulations to our King’s Birthday Honour Recipients

Basketball Australia would like to congratulate every member of the basketball family and community who have received 2023 King’s Birthday Honours.

From medical officials and volunteers to coaches and statisticians, you are the lifeblood of our sport, and we thank you for your service to our sport.

Basketball Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Peter Harcourt AM, received the Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to sports and exercise medicine, and to anti-doping monitoring. Harcourt has been BA’s Chief Medical Officer since 1984 and was inducted into its Hall of Fame last year.

Two recipients of the Medal of the Order (OAM) were recognised for their service to basketball – Allan Polkinghorne from South Australia and Tasmania’s, Phil Thomas.

Thomas is an iconic name when it comes to basketball in Tassie, having coached 400 games in the SEABL/Australian Basketball League. In 2005 he was made a life member of Basketball Tasmania and he is a Member of the Tasmania JackJumpers Bloodlines.

Polkinghorne has been involved in officiating for the best part of 40 years. He was inducted into South Australia’s Platinum League of Referees in 2014 and became a Life Member in 2021.

 

Congratulations to the 2023 King’s Birthday Honour recipients below, with awards and achievements related to basketball listed.

AM – Roger Blake, TAS
For significant service to sport as a competitor, administrator and statistician.

North West Basketball Union, Basketball Tasmania

• Historian, since 2010.
• Statistician, since 2013.

Devonport Warriors – Devonport Basketball Council Inc.

• Score Bench Official, 1977.
• Club Historian, since 2006.
• Accredited Level 1 Coach, since 1984.
• Assistant Coach, Devonport Representative Teams, 1985, 1987, 1990, 2011.
• Administration Junior Commission, 1986-1988, 1992-1993.
• Co-ordinator, Girl’s Primary School Tournament, 1991.
• Life Member, since 2011.
• Awards, seven service, one merit.

Awards and Recognition include:

• Merit Award, North West Basketball Union, 2018.
• Life Member, Sportsman’s Association of Australia, since 2013.
• Arch Holliway Award, Senior Division, Devonport Basketball Council, 2009.
• Participant Commonwealth Games Baton Relay, 2006.
• Australian Sports Medal, 2000.

AM – Professor Terry Haines, VIC
For significant service to medical education and research into fall prevention and mobility.

• Also giving back to the community, Terry is a basketball coach in his hometown.

AM – Dr Peter Harcourt OAM, VIC
For significant service to sports and exercise medicine, and to anti-doping monitoring.

Basketball Australia

• Chief Medical Officer, Basketball Australia, since 1984.
• Team Physician, South East Melbourne Phoenix, National Basketball League, current.

Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA)

• Chair, Medical Commission, since 2012, and Member, since 1986.
• Chair, Anti-Doping Committee, since 2012.
• Ad-hoc Member, Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panels, since 2012.
• Chair, Covid-19 Advisory Committee, 2020.
• Deputy Chair, Therapeutic Use Exception Committee, since 1998.

Awards and Recognition include:

• Basketball Australia Hall of Fame, 2022.

AM – Dr David Hughes, ACT
For significant service to sports medicine as an administrator and elite athlete physician.

Sports Medicine – Other

• Medical Practitioner, Sport and Exercise Medicine, 28 years.
• Team Physician, Australian Opals Basketball, 2010-2014.

Australian Olympic Committee

• Chair, Medical Commission, current.
• Medical Director, Australian Olympic Team, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
• Team Physician, Australian Opals, London, 2012.

AM – Dr Diana Robinson, NSW

For significant service to sports medicine as a physician and to anti-doping regulation.

Basketball Australia

• Member, Basketball Australia Integrity Committee, since 2022.
• Member, Basketball Australia Transgender Working Group, since 2023.

AM – Ms Jane Spring, NSW
For significant service to disability advocacy in sport, and to public sector administration.

• Board Member, and Chair, Women’s National Basketball League Executive, Wheelchair Sports Australia, 2010-2013.

OAM – Mr Arthur Booth, NSW
For service to community of Wollongong.

Illawarra Hawks/Wollongong Hawks Basketball Club

• Sponsor/Supporter, more than 40 years.
• Life Member.

OAM – Mr Craig Caldicott, SA
For service to surf lifesaving, and to the law.

South Adelaide Basketball Club

• President, 2001-2002.
• Former Manager, Assistant Coach and Training Coordinator for various teams.
• Delegate, Basketball SA, 2 years.
• Former Player.

OAM – Carol Cooper, NSW
For service to the indigenous community of the Blue Mountains.

• Volunteer, Upper Mountains Basketball Association.

OAM – Mr David Hawdon, QLD

For service to the community through a range of roles.

• Former Committee Member, Batemans Bay Basketball Association.

OAM – Ms Sandra MacNeil, VIC
For service to the community of Greensborough through a range of roles.

Basketball

• President, Yarrambat Phantoms Basketball Club, since 2016
• President, Greenhills Basketball Club, 11 years.
• Score Bench Official, 15 years.

Awards and Recognition includes:

• Basketball Victoria Gold Award recognising 35 years of service to basketball.

OAM – Mr Geoffrey Phillips, NSW
For service to the broadcast media, and to the community.

• Supporter, Wollongong Roller Hawks (playing wheelchair basketball).
• Fundraising for the Illawarra Hawks
• Life Member Illawarra Hawks Basketball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OAM – Mr Allan Polkinghorne, SA
For service to basketball.

South Australia Church Basketball Officials Association

• Referee Coach and Examiner, since 1984.
• Editor, Centres Please Referee’s Magazine, since 2006.
• President, 1984-1992 and 1977-1980.
• Secretary, 2015 and 1974-1976.
• Vice-President, 1993-2007 and 1973.
• Member, Rostering Committee, since 1972.
• Life Member, 1982.

South Australia Church Basketball Association

• Member, Management Committee, 2015-2018.
• Member, Restructure Group, 2014-2015.
• Life Member, 1993.
• Referee, since 1959.
• Former Player, 1950s.

Basketball South Australia

• • Inductee, Platinum League of Referees, 2014.
  • Referee Evaluator, 1990-2006.
  • Life Member, 2021.

OAM – Mr Phillip Thomas, TAS
For service to basketball.

Ulverstone Basketball Association

• • • Board Member and Former President.
    • Member, Junior and Senior Committee, current.
    • Coach, Under 14 Boys Team, current.
    • Coach, Red Hoppers Seniors, 2005-2010, 1982-1987 and 1977-1979
    • Captain/Coach, Red Hoppers Seniors, 1982-1987 and 1977-1979.
    • Coach, Women’s Red Hoppers Seniors, 2002-2003.
    • Life Member, since 1993.

North West Basketball Union

• • • Former Committee Member.
    • Life Member.

Basketball Tasmania

• • • Coach, North-West Tasmania Women’s team, South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), 2005.
    • Coach, Devonport Warriors, 1983.
    • Coach, Casino City Launceston, 1980.
    • Coach, Seniors Team, 1977-1979.
    • Senior Men’s Player, 1973-1976.
    • Life Member, since 2005.

Australian Basketball League

• • • Head Coach, SEABL/Australian Basketball League, 400 games.
    • National Championship Coach, 1996.

Basketball – Other

• • • Member, Tasmania JackJumpers Bloodlines.

Awards and Recognition include:

• • Coach of the Year, Southern Conference, SEABL, 1996.
  • Life Member, North-West Tasmania Thunder basketball team.
  • Senior Coach of the Year, Basketball Tasmania.