KALAMUNDA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION 1964 - 1971

By Marian Rolfe

In the late 1950’s Basketball was organized by Kalamunda Junior Football club at Recreation Road on the old tennis courts at the rear of the clubrooms to allow players to keep fit during the summer months. Backboards were erected on one of the tennis courts.

In 1961 the Lesmurdie Youth Club obtained permission to use the neglected court and a competition was formed with 4 teams and visiting teams coming from Scarborough PCYC and Maylands youth club. Again, the competition failed after some time and it was 1963 when Ken Utting purchased the dismantled equipment from the KJFC and an Association was formed in 1963/64 with 4 mens teams and two womens teams.

That season’s grand final was abandoned in a brawl. Games were played under coin operated lights which frequently failed. There was considerable local community opposition to the games, noise and behaviour of the players.

In 1965 Mundaring joined with teams and more umpiring expertise. Games were played at Mundaring and Carlisle as well as Kostera Oval during this time.

In 1966/67 season the competition had grown and the two set of backboards were erected. The backboard poles were carried up Whistlepipe Gully from old SEC light towers and made by John Suckling and the Phys Ed students at Kalamunda Senior High School. The 4 courts were fenced by the Shire of Kalamunda and a grandstand was purchased and later moved to Lesmurdie (It is still there under the grandstand on Court 4) Games were played in the evenings by juniors and adults in the summer months. Kats Club joined the competition from Kalamunda High School with teams in most junior grades as well as seniors. Ken Utting was elected President of Kalamunda Basketball in 1968 with K Stove as Secretary.

In the 1968/69 season the acquisition of a permanent administration building in the form of the old Library was a great benefit as it provided toilets, change rooms and a kiosk. A new constitution was written. A Court Manager was appointed. John Suckling was President and Ken Utting as Secretary. Talks were held with the Shire about the need for more courts.

In 1969/70 season membership had grown to over 580. The courts could not accommodate the fixture and the neighbors were supported by the Shire in limiting competition to 10pm in the evening.

Talks about numbers and noise saw the Shire and the Association consider three new sites – Wilkins Road Kalamunda, Bill Shaw Reserve opposite the Walliston Deli and Ray Owen Reserve in Lesmurdie. Lesmurdie was chosen by the Shire as the preferred option due to the closeness of residents at the other locations. Kalamunda Basketball Association saw problems with Lesmurdie as it was exposed to the winds, lacked access by public transport and the only ablutions were at the Lesmurdie Hall considerable distance across the unlit gravel car park.

The Shire of Kalamunda would prevail and the courts were destined for Ray Owen Reserve in Lesmurdie. Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association was incorporated on the 1st of October 1971.

It celebrated 50 years of Incorporation in 2021 with an exhibition of past memorabilia.

(For more information about Kalamunda Basketball see also Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association Incorporated 1971).