INTERVIEWS
& VIDEOS

Ray Girvan, 2019

by Hoops | Mar 18, 2019

Ray Girvin is a true basketball tragic. He fell in love with the game when he played his first game for a team called Nomads back in 1971.

Back in those days anybody could nominate a team to play in any grade.( It was only later that the association decided it would be much easier to deal with clubs than individual teams, and so introduced a rule that every team needed to belong to a club and to be a club you needed to have a minimum of 3 teams).

Ray Girvin took Nomads form a single C grade men’s team to become one of the larger club in the WBA. In 1988 Noman’s amalgamated with Brorowa Bears to form Wildcats as we know them today.

As a player Ray won numerous awards in regular season competition as well as the many and varied carnivals he participated in. As a club administrator his legacy lives on through Wildcats.

As you listen to Ray tell his story his great passion for the game of basketball shines through. Since leaving Whyalla in 1981 Ray has become heavily involved with North Adelaide Rockets where his two sons both enjoys successful basketball careers.

Ray has also contributed to the Memory Lane tab on this website with a written version of his journey through Whyalla Basketball with the Nomads Basketball Club.

ALL INTERVIEWS & VIDEOS

John Spooner

Our latest 3 part Video instalment is with ex WBA President John Spooner.

It was filmed last year but has taken interviewer Trevor Castle some time to edit due to the amount of content John provided.

Tia Bails, 2019

From Steelers to Rockets.

This Months video interview instalemnet by Trevor Castle features another one of Whyalla’s young female high flyers.

U16 Nationals – Jorja Eldridge Interview, 2017

Get to know one of Whyalla’s young stars!

In January Jorja played in the Under 16 Girls Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury then chosen in the ACJBC (Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup) team.

Keith Lenon – Past President Interview, 2017

Keith Lenon was a basketball pioneer in Whyalla.

When basketball began in Whyalla it was at the old Aerodrome (just behind where the wetlands are now) in 1955 and there were just 5 teams.

Allan Castle – Past President Interview, 2017

WBA Life Member Allan Castle moved from Pt. Augusta to Whyalla in 1969 and immediately became involved in the management committee of the Whyalla Basketball Association.

Army Challenge Video, 2016

Highlight footage taken by the Army at the first of our Army Vs Civilian Challenges during their July 2106 Exercise Hamel operations.

It was Grand final type atmosphere but better due to the amazing response from the local community to this charity event.

President Jeff Spry, 2016

Jeff Spry was elected to the position of WBA President at the AGM last year.

I caught up with Jeff in the middle of this term to get to know him a little and to talk about what he sees as the biggest challenges facing Whyalla Basketball at the moment.

Darren Quinn, 2015

Following his recent retirement from playing basketball at the end of Sumer Season 2014/2015, Darren Quinn, Whyalla’s most decorated player, agreed to sit down and tell his story.

Grant Application – Larry Bird in Whyalla, 2015

The WBA are currently in the process of applying for some grant money to start a lighting upgrade.

We applied to Holden for a grant via their Home ground advantage support scheme.

Lawrence McLean – President Interview, 2014

Just before the start of 2014/15 Summer Season I sat down with WBA President, Lawrence Mclean and spoke about his basketball history as well as his 8 years as WBA President.

OUR SPONSORS