Niall Quinn has been rewarded with Basketball Victoria Life Membership, which was announced at the Annual General Meeting this week, he will be formally recognised at the 2024 Basketball Victoria Awards Dinner.
A stalwart of basketball in Victoria for over 50 years, Niall served both Knox Basketball and Basketball Victoria in a variety of important roles, demonstrating an endless amount of commitment, passion, integrity and enthusiasm that has dramatically impacted Basketball in Victoria.
Niall changed the way basketball in this State was developed, he was instrumental in Knox Basketball’s prosperity and growth from the early 1980’s to present and was actively involved in the funding and construction of both the Boronia Basketball Stadium and the State Basketball Centre.
He was also an integral member of the Knox Referees Branch, spanning 50 years and training up thousands of aspiring young referees over that time. His commitment to the VBRA Knox program helped shape the success of the program which can be seen today.
Niall served Junior Representative basketball for over 25 years starting back in 1992 through to 2018 when he retired as Chairperson of the Junior Representative Commission.
In 1992 he began as the Knox delegate attending the meetings of the then known ‘Boys Commission’, then in 1994 he joined the Rules Sub-Committee, helping to drive the VJBL competition to becoming what it is today.
When the Boys’ and Girls’ Commissions were united in 1995/96, he became a member of the combined Committee where he contributed on many policy matters, especially in areas such as referee development, the National Junior Classic and the VJBL competition rules.
In 2006 Niall became Chair of the VJBL Committee, where he was an outstanding Chairperson, building trust with the participating associations, and assisting in the development of the staff. This was a period not only of growth but structural changes within the operations of the competition, working closely with Basketball Victoria and the VJBL commission with the introduction of the JRC Charter.
He also personally crusaded for the Under 14 twenty-four second shot clock rule, not only for the VJBL but also the Under 14 National Championships. Niall also help push for the introduction of the mandatory ‘man to man’ defence in the younger age groups, which other States have now followed.
Niall was elected a Basketball Victoria Board Member in 2010 and provided great service and advice for 8 years, he continued his service both for Basketball Victoria and Knox Basketball until recently, where he had to step down to move to Tasmania.
We thank Niall for his dedication to basketball in Victoria and congratulate him as a thoroughly deserving Basketball Victoria Life Member.
Niall Quinn’s Achievements:
- Life Member of Knox Basketball Inc
- Life Member of VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated – 1997
- VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated Committee Member – 12 years (1981 to 1993)
- KBI Referee Adviser – 2 years (1988 to 1989)
- KBI Board Member – Senior Raiders Program (8 years)
- Board Member of the VBRA State Body (3 years)
- Chairperson of the VJBL (8 years service)
- Basketball Victoria Board Member – (2010-2018 – 8 Years service)
