Barrier Daily Truth, Broken Hill's Daily Newpaper: Sign of respect

Sign of respect

Friday, 10th February, 2012

TRIBUTE: BHBA Vice President Mary Gillespie with Shirley Sanderson in front of the new basketball stadium sign.

By Darrin Manuel

The Broken Hill Basketball Association (BHBA) has paid tribute a local icon of the sport with new signage at R.K. Sanderson Stadium.

The sign was erected as a show of respect for the late Bob Sanderson, after whom the stadium was named. Mr Sanderson was a crucial figure in the development of the stadium and the success of the sport in the city.

Mr Sanderson’s name had previously taken pride of place on the front wall of the stadium, but over time the wording had gradually disappeared due to vandalism.

“The large black lettering was originally mounted on the wall but sadly some of these letters have been stolen,” said BHBA Vice President Mary Gillespie.

“The Executive Committee decided it was time for an upgrade... in honour of the late Bob Sanderson, whom the current executive will always hold in the highest regard.”

Mr Sanderson signed on as the first secretary of what was then known as the Broken Hill Amateur Basketball Association (BHABA) in 1952, and shouldered even greater responsibility in 1961 when he took over as secretary/treasurer - a position he held for 25 consecutive years.

In 1966 he became the first person to receive life membership of the BHABA, while wife Shirley, who was also heavily involved in basketball, received the same honour in 1972.

Mr Sanderson was key to establishing outdoor basketball courts in the city’s South in the 1960s, and by 1972 the Association had a fully enclosed court and canteen facilities. In the next 11 years the courts received further upgrades to reach its current capacity of three indoor courts.

Mr Sanderson’s passing in March 2001 was a huge blow for basketball, and tributes flowed from sporting bodies all across the city.

After his death Shirley remained a great supporter of local basketball, and she was on hand last week when the stadium’s new sign was unveiled.

“It’s a great improvement on the old sign, it’s a very attractive colour and it really stands out,” said Shirley.

“It’s a great honour for my family and myself to have the name perpetuated on the front of the stadium.”

BHBA President Grahame Semmens said the new sign was a fitting tribute to a family that had contributed so much to basketball in Broken Hill.

“Our facility today is all due to the hard work of the late Bob Sanderson who always had a dream to have the quality facility which we have today,” he said.

“The Broken Hill Basketball Association is extremely proud to have their facility named after the late R. K. Sanderson, and are always honoured to have Shirley at our venue.”