Victorian local basketball’s most influential women

As basketball’s popularity continues to rise across Victoria, there are countless women at local level playing a key role. These are some of the most influential in the state.

Women are continuing to play an important role in the rapid growth in basketball across Victoria.

From club presidents and administrators to coaches of junior teams, the growth of female involvement continues to grow at local level.

These are some of the people making a difference.

Mary-Ann Barton, Shepparton

Mary-Ann has been with the Greater Shepparton Basketball Association since the early 1990s and the club says she hasn’t missed a year.

She has filled many roles across time including an administrator, coach, committee member, team manager and is a continued supporter of the sport.

Her two daughters have also come through the system.

Tammy Bower, Casey

Tammy has been involved at Casey Basketball for several decades and has been employed at the association for 10 years in 2023.

Since becoming a Casey employee, Tammy has overseen several major achievements including seeing the team enter Big V Basketball and then advance senior teams to the NBL1.

A previous Basketball Victoria Administrator of the Year winner, Casey has gone to over 8000 domestic players, growing from 2500 since Tammy started.

She has also helped lead the club out of debt and into a strong financial position.

Maddison Delbridge, Wallan

Maddison is the current coach of the Panthers’ under-18.1 boys team in the VJBL.

“She is a young mum who also works and attends her boys practice matches,” the club said.

“The respect she has from her boys is indescribable, the power she holds while coaching these young men every week is remarkable.

“The love and passion that she has for the game is just something so special to see.”

Paula Hogan is a key figure at Eltham Basketball. Photo: Traviphotography.

Paula Hogan, Eltham

Paula plays a big role at the Eltham Wildcats as vice-president, domestic co-ordinator to over 300 teams and is the under 12.1 girls coach.

“Paula is a life member of the club whose family has been heavily involved for over 30 years,” the club said.

“She has an unmatched level of dedication to providing the best possible service to our members and often tackles the some of the harder issues within teams that other people struggle with.

“Covering over 300 domestic teams is a massive ask and she leads her team with competence and pride in what she does at all times.

“She also coaches our 12.1 girls team who play in Victorian Championship, the top level of junior basketball in Victoria. As a coach she is known for being knowledgeable, caring and dedicated within this role too.

“She does all of this while managing a heavy workload within her full-time job working as a business manager at a local school.

“We are incredibly grateful for Paula and all that she does.”

Mel Jackson is an important member of the Surfcoast Basketball community.

Mel Jackson, Surfcoast

If you ever find Mel down at Surf Coast Basketball, it’s likely she’s probably filling a role.

She is currently a general committee member, runs the VJBL program, coaches a VJBL team, coaches local girls teams and plays domestic and representative basketball at Big V and CBL level.

“Mel holds many roles in administration, committee, coach and player. She brings a passion and enthusiasm that is hard to match and a wealth of experience,” the club said.

“Her primary goal is to get kids playing basketball at all levels and ensuring growth across the girls’ and women’s competitions.

“ Mel was instrumental in resurrecting the women’s competition on the Surfcoast as it had ceased to exist, but over the past few years she has helped drive the growth to now have two divisions.

“Mel is a true role model for women and girls in our community through her representation in our Big V and CBL chargers women’s teams as a player, her coaching at domestic and representative levels and her voluntary work with running representative programs and driving the domestic involvement of females in a male dominated sport.

“Mel is one of those people that if something is needed she will be there to help get it done.”

Anita Ledger is a much loved member of the McKinnon Basketball community.

Anita Ledger, McKinnon

Anita is the current general manager of the McKinnon Basketball Association, having been in the role since 2018.

“Since then, she has taken the McKinnon Basketball Association from a medium size club with a minimal competitive footprint within the Victorian basketball community, to one that is now known by everyone and is one of the highest ranked associations in the VJBL,” the club said.

“Anita has also undertaken extensive work in increasing our domestic competition capacity by acquiring more courts than ever to facilitate the extreme growth our association has seen since she has taken over.

“Throughout the Covid pandemic, Anita spearheaded a range of initiatives including, The CAGE – an outdoor basketball activation built from scratch, the Online Training Challenge – a digital training resource with new drills everyday for players to stay active from home, and a range of technological contact tracing systems to help with the return of basketball indoors.”

Ann McCann of Kilsyth Basketball.

Ann McCann, Kilsyth

Ann is someone who can do it all.

Her various roles include being a junior domestic volunteer with the SEBC Saints, long time junior Cobra coach Coach (under-10,12,14s), Kilsyth Basketball venue manager and score table official.

“Ann has been an incredibly passionate and loyal member of the Kilsyth Basketball family for over a decade,” the club said.

“She currently works as a venue manager at Kilsyth Basketball, and scoretable official for our NBL1 and VYC home games. In her spare time, Ann has been a volunteer coach within the junior Cobra program for over a decade, playing a key role in the development of our under-12 and 14 athletes.

“She’s currently heading our new under-10 Cobra boys development program, helping prepare these athletes for full time rep basketball once they enter under-12s.

“Ann has also volunteered for over a decade with the SEBC Saints domestic club, as a junior coach and junior boys co-ordinator.”

Tanya Roberts, Pakenham

Tanya is the current president of the Pakenham Warriors Basketball Association.

“Tanya has been in the role of president of Pakenham for the past 18 months,” the club said.

“An incredible lady who is involved in all aspects of the club including cheerleader to all our VJBL players. Tanya also court announces at times for the Warriors home games, organises amazing halftime entertainment and does an amazing job at being the president of our club.

“All this and (she) still manages to be a mum and also the principal of a school of over 1100 students.”