KALAMUNDA & DISTRICTS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED. 1971

By Marian Rolfe

The period 1971 -1974 was a time of intense negotiation with the Shire of Kalamunda rejecting many suggestions by the committee of Kalamunda &Districts Basketball Association regarding new courts. The old courts at Kostera Oval were no longer tenable and the Shire chose Ray Owen Reserve in Lesmurdie as the new site as the local residents were further removed from any courts and any potential for problems. Ken Utting, John Suckling and Richard Arnold were recognized as Life Members in 1973 for their earlier efforts for basketball especially at Kostera Oval.

In 1975 four bitumen outdoor courts were constructed at Ray Owen Reserve, where the current building stands, along with simple change rooms. KDBA funded the new change rooms on a self-supporting loan of $30,000. (Now part of the football clubrooms). Some short time later Netball started at Ray Owen and eight more outdoor courts were constructed (As exists now).

A gate fee was collected as players and spectators passed through a large turnstile. The car park was gravel and the dust from exuberant drivers frequently covered the courts. The courts were sloped but the goals were level and you tossed a coin for direction of play. It’s hard going uphill in the second half. The kiosk was conducted from a caravan.

Like the Kostera Oval competition, this was only a summer competition September to March. Many players from throughout Perth metropolitan area played here as it was only one of two larger competitions. During this time Mary Ambrose 1978, John Ritchie 1979, Kay Lowe 1982, and Neville Moran 1983 were made life Members for past services to the Association. Maurice Lowe was President with Richard Parker as Administrator during the period 1982 to 1987. A very turbulent but rewarding time for the Association.

Netball used the courts in the winter months. Kalamunda &Districts Netball Association was incorporated on 6th September 1984.

In 1984 after several years of intense negotiation, the Ray Owen Sports Centre was constructed over the original four outdoor courts. The building was constructed by Gerry Tangney of Valley Building Company. These courts were over coved bitumen surface to allow water runoff and the concrete light pylon blocks were visible under the bitumen. The Building was opened by the Shire President Peter Marjoram on 30th March 1985 with Jim Kelly as the Shire Clerk.

The Associations managed the cleaning of the courts and the Shire contractor Jim Dwyer cleaned the other parts of the building. The Associations purchased a automated court sweeper for the bitumen court surface. Sugary drinks were banned as their pitted the surface. Income from other bookings in the Centre was shared between the Associations and the Shire by agreement.

The original self-supporting loan of 20 years on the building of $114,000 was shared equally between KDBA and KDNA. The building was also funded equally by the Shire of Kalamunda and The Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation Total expenditure was approximately $350,000. As the loan progressed with interest rates rising to 18%, the loan was able to be renegotiated to a relatively low rate of 14% This loan was completed in 2005.

The Ray Owen Sports Centre Management Committee was formed to manage the affairs of the Stadium and was one of the first Local Government Management Committees to ever exist. The Committee consisted of two members from the KDBA, KDNA and the Shire. The Shire President was the Chairman until the task was deemed to be held by the Ward Councilor in later years.

The ROSCMC still manages the building, meeting every four months. This committee decided that Netball could play on a Tuesday evening after intense lobbying of the Shire. Basketball could now only operate on a Monday Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Saturday, Tuesday and Friday were for Netball and Sunday was a shared day. Maurice Lowe became a Life Member in 1987 in recognition of his role as President from 1982 - 1987. Bob Maunder became President in 1988 with the able assistance of Dave Saunders as the Administrator. A position Dave held for ten years before becoming President himself in 1998.

During the 1980’s, players wishing to play in an elite competition of Junior State League were able to play for Swan Districts Basketball Association at Midvale. After local pressure by the Development Officer Terry Rolfe, KDBA re-affiliated in 1991 with Basketball WA after some years outside the mainstream system. Inter district teams were selected and entered the competition as Kalamunda Devils. The AGM that year saw the name change to Kalamunda Hornets. Marian Rolfe was elect President for the next six years from 1992.

As the competition grew, Terry and other like minded players had plans to the replace the bitumen courts with sprung wooden boards. Again, in a jointly funded project (Shire, DYSR and Assoc) the first two courts were replaced in 1993 ($139,550) by GranWood Flooring and the second two courts replaced in 1997 ($146,000) by Bannister. The Shire accepting the lowest tender that year despite strong support of GranWood by the Associations. Both applications had been refused initially at DYSR level however action on the part of John Day MLA Kalamunda saw them successful.

Both Associations funded their contributions from existing funds and did not borrow for these improvements.

By this time basketball was being played three nights a week until 11pm and inter-district sides all trained in any venue available except Ray Owen. This was a large cost to the Association of over $14,000 per annum.

Through 1994/5/6 many meetings were held with Shire and Netball regarding possible extension to the Stadium and not much progress was made. In 1993 a midweek ladies competition was commenced with many ladies enjoying daytime competition. 1994 saw the start of mini-ball with under 10’s initially and later Hills Hoops seeing up to 35 youngsters attend the clinics to learn the game. Holiday camps became a permanent fixture on the calendar three times per year with high profile leaders such as Roland Brooks (ex-Wildcat) and Kelly Huston. Attendance varied from about 30 – 100 making these camps both fun and profitable.

1994 was a successful year for Kalamunda Hornets with under 16 girls winning the grand final and later in the year the Federation Cup (now State Championships) and under 16 boys were also winners. Players from all over Perry Lakes turned out to see an exciting young Carmel boy - Earl Bobongie play for Kalamunda Hornets. Earl would represent WA in Under 18’s State Team in 1996 and feature in further finals as he grew older. Other State team representatives that year were Daniel Beard (20’s) and Kathy McCarthy in the High Schools Aboriginal team, Matt Splatt and Matt Lance in State Schoolboys.

At the AGM in 1996, Richard Parker was made a Life Member for his services as Administrator during 1980’s. Don Utting was also awarded Life Membership for services as President and Administrator during that time. In 1997 Rob Grey past President was awarded a Life Membership of KDBA.

In September 1996 an application promoted by Marian Rolfe and Peter Hanson was made to the Shire of Kalamunda and Ministry of Youth, Sport & Recreation for the construction of two additional courts to the northern end of the stadium. Several years of intense lobbying and hard work resulted in the construction in 1997/98 at a cost of over $800,000 of the Court 5/6 area. Again all had not gone according to plan but state and federal elections ensured a successful funding application eventually. KDBA funded the equipment installed in Courts 5/6 as well as a loan for the building.

A self supporting loan of 20 years was raised for $250,000 by KDBA and the balance funded by the Shire and DYSR. KDNA agreed to allow the construction and to contribute to the ongoing maintenance of all the courts but did not contribute to the construction loan until after about 15 years. This loan was finalised in 2018 Ray

Owen Sports Centre was now the only 6 court Stadium after Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium. These courts were officially opened on 2nd July 1998 by Shire President Owen McGrath, Shire CEO David Vaughan, and MLA – Kalamunda Hon John Day. All Councilors were recorded on the brass plate in the foyer of Courts 5/6 s it was the Centenary Year of the Shire 1898-1998.

Dave Saunders was elected President for the next three years.

In 1999 KDBA was approached to host a pre-season Wildcat game. With a lot of help from our volunteers the game took place on 12th Sept 1999 against the Adelaide 36’s with the stadium filled to capacity. There were spectators literally hanging from the rafters. Our Mens Div 1 Hornets played the Athletes in Action in the pregame. Sponsored program for the event was popular for autographs.

10.30pm start time-slots were now a thing of the past. Western Australian Basketball League teams could train in the stadium. In 1999 Basketball WA wanted more teams in their WABL competition, so Bunbury, wishing to enter WABL filled some of our places with their four teams. At that time the basketball mixed competition was started on a Friday night out of netball season. As this was a Netball Night the competition finally finished about 6 years later as netball grew and required the time.

The Ray Owen Sport Centre was a catalyst for a long and prosperous period for Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association (Kalamunda Suns).

The next twenty years plus have seen the Association grow and expand until more courts were requested in 2012 and are on the drawing board for future planning as part of the Ray Own Master plan.