ActewAGL ACT Sports Hall of Fame 2011

Associate Members

Peter Baskett

Basketball

Inducted on 26 August 2011

Awards
Australian Sports Medal 2000
Life Member Basketball Canberra 1981
First Life Member Women’s National Basketball League 1990

Basketball Canberra
President                                 1971,72,78 – 91
Immediate Past President        1992-93
Vice president                          1973, 75, 76,77
Competition Chairman             1968   
Committee Member                 1967, 69, 70
Guardian, Code of Conduct     1999-2000

Other Positions
Member Australian Basketball Federation Committee     1968 - 1991
President Women’s National Basketball League        1986 - 1990
Hear of Delegation Australian Womens’ Teams  1984 Cuba, 1986 China, 1988 Latvia/Russia

Peter Baskett was a moving force in the administration of basketball in Canberra in its formative years and through its development as a State organisation following separation from NSW in 1965.  Peter was the administrative rudder that saw the Association evolve from the kitchen table to a professionally managed organisation (1976 -86).

He is one of a small band of enthusiasts who, during a period when “that American game” was not well known and fighting for recognition, saw the potential of the sport as a fine recreational sport and its for its broader appeal.

During his term as ACT representative on the Committee and, later, the Board of the Australian Basketball Federation (now Basketball Australia), Peter strongly advanced the position of the ACT in decisions affecting Australian basketball. He was able to take an Australian view, rather than the prevailing parochial state view, to Committee meetings.  He was a strong advocate in promoting the equality of women’s basketball.  This approach and persistence is evidenced by the high world standing attained today by Australia’s women players.

Peter was the first President of the Women’s National Basketball League.  At the end of his term (1990) all States & and the ACT had teams in the League, making it the only truly national league in any women’s sport.

His commitment has been unstinting and far in excess of that which might be expected in the normal course of his responsibilities.  Basketball both locally and nationally has been well served by Peter and the sport and community is richer for that commitment.

Peter has continued to support local basketball in his role as Voluntary Chairman and Member of the Basketball ACT Disciplinary Tribunal.

Joan Kellett OAM

Swimming

Inducted on 26 August 2011

Joan Kellett has dedicated more than forty years to the sport of swimming within the ACT and surrounding area, much of it as president of the local peak swimming body. Her Contribution has spanned both administration and active officiating.  Unquestionably, Joan has clocked up more hours officiating at swimming events than any other person in the ACT and she is still an active official.

Joan joined the Dickson Swimming Club in 1967 and almost instantly became involved by initiating a free Learn-to-Swim program. She was awarded Life Membership of the Dickson Swimming Club for her dedicated service.

In 1985 Joan became President of Capital Territory Amateur Swimming Association (CTASA) which was later renamed ACT Swimming and then Swimming ACT.
During her tenure at the helm of local swimming she oversaw significant changes to the sport.  The most significant of these changes was a move from a summer only sport to a year round activity.  Joan was instrumental in the development of our Swimming Program for People with Disabilities which is still continuing after almost 20 years ago.  She was active member on the 2008 Pacific School Games (PSG) working party and headed the specific swimming working party for these Games.

She was a volunteer at the Sydney Olympic Games and the Paralympics in 2000 and continues this close relationship with the Olympic Council. She has been a volunteer and official at Australian School Swimming Championships on a number of occasions.  She still attends club night races, Special Olympic meets, school swimming carnivals as well as numerous local meets where she continues to work as an official.

Joan noticed early on how few women pariticpated in sports administration.   Consequently she was involved in the Women in Sport Committee for many years and continues to network in this area.  She was a member of the Minister’s Advisory Committee for Sports and Recreation for some years and it’s chair for three years.

One of her abiding passions is that all children should be water safe and by the time they finish primary school should not only be water safe but be able to swim thirty to fifty metres. 

In addition to her swimming activities, Joan spent many years involved in the Girl Guides, she is an active in the YMCA, a community representative on the ACT Schools Authority for four years, and still on the Board of Turner School, and as a community advocate.

1973 – 1981    Office bearer of the ACT Swimming Council
1981 - 1985    Secretary of Capital Territory Amateur Swimming Association (CTASA)
1985 – 2004    President of CTASA (which later renamed Swimming ACT)
2007 – present    Secretary of Swimming ACT

Joan’s dedication across so many years, in so many fields, is inspirational.

Tim Sheens

Rugby League

Inducted on 26 August 2011

The name Tim Sheens is synonymous with the sport rugby league. With a career that spans more than forty years, Tim’s contribution to the game has been more than just player and coach. He has mentored many league greats including Greg Alexander, Laurie Daley, Mal Meninga, Royce Simmons, Ricky Stuart and Benji Marshall.  Tim’s coaching technique combines tradition and innovation, which not only produces an exciting style of football, but which has allowed his longevity in an evolving sport.


Tim, like his grandfather, was a Penrith Junior.  In 1968, in his final year at St Gregory’s, Tim captained his team to a grand final victory in the MCS Competition. From 1970 to 1982, Tim played 177 first grade matches for the Penrith Panthers.


In 1984, the Panthers offered Tim his first coaching role, Coaching Manager. That same year, he won Dally M Coach of the Year – the first of many. The following year, Tim took the Panthers to their first Finals Series.


Tim moved to Canberra to head the Raiders in 1988, and in 1989, he took them to their inaugural premiership.  In 1990, the Raiders were both minor premiers and winners of the grand final, achieving back-to-back premierships.  Again, Tim won Dally M Coach of the Year. In 1991, he took his team to a third consecutive Grand Final however in 1992, with salary cap issues and a team torn apart, the Raiders missed the Finals.  Tim played an instrumental role in rebuilding the Raiders, and in 1994, they won their third premiership. Tim managed to take the Raiders to eight Finals Series but after nine seasons, he moved north to coach the North Queensland Cowboys in the Super League.


In 2003, a struggling Wests Tigers, in need of a coach with both the ability to change an indifferent culture and develop a group of juniors, sought the services of Tim Sheens.  In 2005, he unexpectedly took them to their first Finals Series and first premiership.  Again, Tim secured Dally M Coach of the Year.


With a CV that boasts four premierships, most matches as an NRL coach, coach of City Origin, NSW State of Origin, NSW Tri-Series, Australian World Nines, and Australia, there is no rugby league coach more experienced than Tim Sheens.

Full Members

Brennon Dowrick

Gymnastics

Inducted on 26 August 2011

Australian Brennon Dowrick is one of Australia’s most successful gymnasts.  He has represented Australia at two Olympic games, three Commonwealth Games and seven World Championships.   Brennon was Australia’s first ever gymnastics Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist in 1990, a feat he repeated in 1994.  He also was Australia’s first Olympic games finalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

From the age of seven, Brennon had the goal of representing his country at the Olympic games.  Originally he was a member of Canberra United Gymnastics Club, joining the Australian Institute of Sport at the age of twelve and spending sixteen years on scholarship. Brennon lived through highs and lows with an unwavering passion to achieve beyond his dreams.

Brennon has been speaking since the age of twelve when he started winning high school public speaking competitions.  Upon his retirement from gymnastics in 2000, speaking became Brennon’s full time career.

In addition to his elite sporting career, Brennon completed a journalism degree and worked with one of Australia’s leading corporations.   Brennon is married to Kym and is father to Nathan, Mia, Troy and Kira.  Fatherhood, he believes, is the most challenging career of all!  These life experiences allow him to understand the demands of corporate life and to motivate and lead others to achieve success.

In the near future Brennon and his business partners will be opening the first All Round Gymnastics Centre on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.  All Round Gymnastics will be a recreational gym for ages 12 months to adult and will offer an exceptional and unique gymnastics program for all who attend.

Ben Taylor

Hockey

Inducted on 26 August 201

Ben grew up in Canberra and played hockey with United Hockey Club from the age of four. Ben progressed through the ACT junior representative teams before playing as a midfielder for the Canberra Lakers in the National Hockey League/Australian Hockey League between 1994 and 2006, and again in 2008.
Ben gained selection to the Australian U21 side in 1996 and 1997. In 1997 he was an integral member Australia’s first winning Junior World Cup team in Milton Keynes, England.

Impressing selectors during the Canberra Lakers second placing in the 1998 Australian Hockey League Ben further advanced his playing career that year. His contribution to the Laker’s result and was rewarded with a position in the senior Australian squad. He made his international debut at the 1998 Champions Trophy Tournament in Lahore, Pakistan.

A talented midfielder, Ben’s excellent elimination and passing skills were complemented by a high work rate. Ben’s career with the Kookaburras spanned six years from 1998 to 2004. He played 83 international games, scoring 15 goals. Ben capped his best 12 months in international hockey with a silver medal at the 2001 Champions Trophy Tournament (Rotterdam, Netherlands) and a gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games (Manchester, England).
 

Participation in International Tournaments:
•    Champions Trophy
2001 Rotterdam 2nd
1998 Lahore 3rd
2002 Cologne 5th

•    Commonwealth Games
2002 Manchester 1st

•    Azlan Shah
2004 Kuala Lumpur 1st
2001 Kuala Lumpur 3rd

•    6 Nation Invitational Tournament
2002 Kuala Lumpur 2nd

•    Junior World Cup
1997 Milton Keynes 1st

Ned Zelic

Football

Inducted on 26 August 2011

An Australian football legend Ned Zelic has been a standard-bearer for Australian footballers throughout his career. He was one of the early football pioneers who went overseas to embark on a career in Europe.  Ned is part of an elite group of Australian footballers that have competed in a major European final and had experience in playing for eight major football playing nations and a regular with the Socceroos.

A product of the now named Canberra FC (formerly Canberra Croatia Deakin Football Club), Ned started his professional career in the National Soccer League where he played with clubs Sydney United and Sydney Olympic.
As a Socceroo representative from 1991 he played 32 times for his country and scored three goals, representing Australia in the 1992 Summer Olympics where they finished 4th. Ned was a member of the Australian team that were runner’s up in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and also gained a J-League Cup winners medal whilst with Urawa Reds in 2003.

Ned spent most of the 1990s playing in Europe, most notably for Borussia Dortmund where he reached the UEFA Cup Final in his first season with the club losing to Juventus Turin of Italy and won the German Bundesliga title in 1995. He also played for clubs Auxerre (France), Munich 1860, Entracht Frankfurt, Urawa Diamonds (Japan Cup winner) and finally Dinamo Tblisi (league champion). Ned also played one year in the inaugural A-League for the Newcastle Jets.

Since his retirement from the game Ned has become a much-loved football commentator and analyst on SBS television taking part in their productions of the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and 2010 and the 2008 European Championships, amongst other competitions.

Throughout his career as a player and as a TV commentator and football analyst, Ned Zelic has always been a strong advocate of football. He has inspired many youngsters to take up the game through his actions at club and international level. Showing a passion for the sport that is almost second-to-none he is a widely recognised face within the game. Ned Zelic is a highly credentialed player and role model. Throughout his playing career he demonstrated sound values of fair play, honesty, commitment to his professional player status and serving his country.  He is well recognised and respected for his contributions to football and is both modest and gracious when it comes to acknowledging his achievements.

Ned has been a regular contributor to the growth of football throughout his career and has paved the way to enable many Australians to ply their trade in the top European leagues.  He was inducted into the ACT Football Federation Hall of Fame in 2010.