Life Members
1980 - Frank Pisconeri
Frank Pisconeri commenced playing basketball in Waroona as a junior in 1964, hanging up his boots after he played in the Vets team at the 2004 Country Championships. Frank was a versatile player, having played in various positions in the local competition and at both South West Carnivals and Country Championships. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the competition was based between Waroona, Dwellingup, Pinjarra and Mandurah, and Frank competed in these games as a senior. During his playing career, Frank was voted Most Valuable Player on various occasions for juniors and seniors locally and at South West Carnivals and Country Championships.
Frank is also well known for his coaching, having successfully coached juniors and seniors mens and womens teams in the local competition and also at the South West Carnivals and Country Championships. Frank was a qualified Level 2 coach and held many coaching clinics. He was also an accomplished umpire, holding a Level 2 qualification and having umpired juniors and seniors locally and at the South West Carnivals and Country Championships.
From his juniors career right through to his retirement, Frank was an active member of the committee, holding positions such as President, Vice President, Juniors Coordinator, Umpires Coordinator and Umpires Rule Advisor. In addition to volunteering his time for the Association, Frank is also a past President of the P&F, current member of Lions Club of Waroona, and one of the original members for the Fundraising Committee for the swimming pool and new Recreation Centre.
In addition to his involvement in Waroona Amateur Basketball Association, Frank has also participated in football for Waroona and Karratha, cricket and hockey, and has been a member of Waroona Chamber of Commerce, Waroona Golf Club and Waroona Bowling & Social Club.
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1985 - Christine Germain
Christine commenced playing basketball at a young age, progressing to represent Waroona at South West Carnivals and Country Championships from 1974 to 1984. She coached all grades from Miniball through to Under 16 Girls from 1973 until approximately 2001, and during this time took on the role as South West Carnival Coach. Christine was also an accomplished umpire, helping out several times a week with Juniors (Boys & Girls) through to Women's and Men's competitions. She served as a valuable committee member, holding the position of Secretary from 1973 to 1985, as well as organising Country Championships, South West Carnivals, umpires and fundraising events.
Christine has also been involved in a huge number of community organisation locally, regionally and state-wide including Waroona Netball Committee, First President of the Waroona Soccer Club, Secretary of Waroona Golf Club, Secretary of the South West Women's Golf Association, Secretary/Treasurer of St John Ambulance 1990 - 2004 and Committee, Girl Guides Leader 1995-2003, Chairperson Waroona Community Resource Centre 2007-2017, Chief Hall Steward Waroona Agricultural Society 2009-2017, Coordinator of Carols by Candlelight 2009-2017, Secretary WA Square Trotters Association, Treasurer Australian Trotters Association, Peel Development Commission 2003 to 2017 and Peel Trails Group to name a few.
Christine has received many awards and accolades for her achievements including Life Membership for Waroona Amateur Basketball Association, Vice Chair Peel Development Commission, WALGA Long & Loyal Service Award, Premiers Australia Day Award and first woman to hold the position of Waroona Shire President.
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1995 - Alison Birch
Alison Birch commenced playing basketball in Waroona as a junior in 1974, and has only recently retired after continuing to play for 33 years. During this time, Ali was best known for her skills, which saw her achieving the following:
- A Grade Women Grand Final - 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1993
- A Grade Women Most Valuable Player - 1995, 1998
- A Grade Women Runner Up Most Valuable Player - 1985, 1987, 1996
- A Grade Women Highest Goal Scorer - 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1998
- Country Championships Vets Allstars - 1994
- Country Championships Division 3 Most Valuable Player - 1996
- WA Country Vets State Team - 1995
Ali also coached intermittently over her playing career, particularly the junior girls and B Grade women, and was happy to umpire when required. Ali has served on the committee from 1987 to 1998 as President, Secretary, Treasurer, Recorder, member of the Building Committee and member of the Fundraising Committee. As a result of her commitment to the Association, Ali has been elected as Patron of the Association for the last 3 years.
Ali still continues to volunteer her time around the association as well as Secretary of the Waroona Agricultural Society and an advisory member for WA College of Agriculture.
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1995 - Mike Le Roy
Mike Le Roy has been an active member of the association since he began playing in 1975. His playing career spanned over 27 years (25 of which he represented Waroona at Country Week), retiring in 2002. He is one of few Waroona players that has represented WA in the Country Masters games from 1987 to 1995. Mike was also a dedicated and experienced level 1 accredited coach, mentoring juniors and seniors teams alike for 35 years. He also refereed in the local juniors and seniors competitions, completing the BWA Umpire's Evaluation course and assisting in organising the original junior umpires development group in the early 1990s.
Throughout his playing career and also in his retirement, Mike has served on the committee, having held the positions of president, committee member, tribunal panel member and life member advisor on numerous occasions. Mike has also served on the committee to resurface the old courts in the 1970s, and the committee to build the new indoor courts in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Mike is a passionate supporter of basketball, but has also been involved in many other community organisations including Waroona Community Men's Shed, Waroona Football Club, Waroona Agricultural Society and Alcoa Waroona Sustainability Committee.
more -->1995 - Grace Pisconeri
Grace Pisconeri was a triple threat throughout her basketball career. She played the positions of Forward, Centre and Guard in the local competition, South West Carnivals and Country Week, regularly named the captain of the team. This saw Grace awarded many trophies including Association MVP twice, South West Carnival MVP, South West Carnival Runner-Up MVP, and eventually Life Member of the Association.
Holding a Level 2 coaching certificate, Grace coached junior boys and girls in the local competition, South West Carnivals and Country Week. Grace also held a Level 1 umpiring certificate, and umpired all levels locally and in carnivals across the state. Grace was also a valuable member off the court, taking on the roles of Juniors President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as Seniors Secretary and Treasurer, throughout her basketball career. She was also willing to assist umpires develop through her role as umpire coordinator.
Outside of basketball, Grace was heavily involved in the local netball club as a secretary, treasurer, committee member and umpire which saw her awarded Life Member for the club. Grace has also been involved with the Waroona Community Resource Centre, St Joseph's Primary School P&F Association, Waroona District High School Board, and Waroona Agricultural Society.
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2010 - Tony Pisconeri
Tony is known as Mr Basketball in Waroona for good reason. He is a loyal local, having only played basketball for Waroona domestically, and at Country Week and South West Championships as a junior and senior for about 30 years. Tony travelled to Melbourne once to play in the Country Carnival and was invited to the first Bunbury Slammers team with Anthony Derosa, however as a young father was unable to commit to putting 100% into this team. Throughout his playing career, Tony was awarded Most Valuable Player 4 times and Runner Up 6 times in seniors and several awards in the junior competition locally, and Most Valuable Player at Country Week and South West Championships.
Tony was also a highly respected coach, having started coaching when he was 15 years old and continuing for over 35 years. He was an accredited level 1 coach, volunteering both locally and at Country Week, usually having 2-3 teams a year. Tony also refereed as all players did until the paid format was introduced, and served as president and vice president for both juniors and seniors for several years.
In addition to his commitment to basketball, Tony has also been involved in numerous local community organisations such as Waroona Football Club, Waroona Community Men's Shed, Town Development Group, Waroona Darts Club, Waroona Indoor Cricket and Waroona Karate Club.
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