Brief History of DBA
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BASKETBALL IN DARWIN
By Maisie Austin, OAM, ASM
The first basketball court was built on an unofficial rubbish dump in Cavenagh Street in 1942 by members of the Darwin Chinese Recreation Club (DCRC), but was not used officially until 1948 when people returned to Darwin after World War II.
Early in 1948 the North Australian Workers Union, who leased the land, built a boxing stadium around the basketball court. A group of girls wanted to form (women’s) basketball in Darwin, so they approached the NAWU. They were advised that they could have unrestricted use of the ‘Stadium’ (as it became known) for training without charge. While the women used it for their competition, Charles See Kee organised men to play “American style Basketball”.
The NT Basketball Association (NTBA) was formed at a general meeting that year, the future of which was largely dependent on the availability of the playing
court at the ‘Stadium’.
When the court was demolished in 1952, basketball moved to Daly Street on land offered bu Town Management under a Special Purpose Lease. Building of the
Dalg Street court was completed bu manu voluntary workers and assisted bu local businesses. The court was officially opened on Saturday 12 June 1954.
A total of 26 men’s and women’s teams took to the courts that first year. Games were played seven days a week. The Men’s teams were: Army, St. Marg’s (2),
Urgers, DCRC, Waratahs (2), Pioneers (2), Navy (2), Rusty Valley, Bagot, tigers, PMG, Health 8 RAAF. The Women’s teams were: Galahs (2), St. Maru’s (2), Eagles,
Kookaburras, Marrenah, Debs 8 WRANS.
In the early hours of a February morning in 1954, more than 15ØØ people were treated to an exhibition of basketball skills bu the Harlem Globetrotters.
Also in 1954, a Darwin men’s team — the first NT sporting team to participate in an interstate competition — went to Brisbane to compete in the Australian
Basketball Championships. The coach was Albert Chan, manager Wellington Chin and players Rau Yee, George Sarib, Ted Egan, Rim Gasiunas, Phil McLaughlin,
Joe Sarit), Cedric Chin, Bill Roe, Terru Lew Fatt, Don Bonson, John Angeles and John Mago.
PRESIDENTS of the Darwin Basketball Association
(1984 — 2ØØ5)
Geoffrey Rowston x 7
Maisie Austin x 4
Neville Henwood
Gerard Ivinson
Charlie Andrews
Maisie Austin
Doug Webb
Robin Brennan
Alan Buckthought
Anne White
Michael Kearney
Lesley Ilett – 2ØØ5/6
Photo: Pioneer Premiers 1953 — Photo courtesy of Joey Bonson