HISTORY

Warragul Basketball Association (WBA), is located in West Gippsland and is the largest basketball association in the Gippsland region with over 300 teams competing every week in our Junior and Senior domestic competitions, generating approximately 4,000 weekly venue visits across Baw Baw Shire.

Warragul Basketball was established in 1972/73 to provide youth from the Warragul and District area with a sporting and social infrastructure to develop and promote personal, team and social skills in a basketball environment. Founded by pioneers including Lester Mason, John Vickerman, Peter Juratowitch, and Brendan Beasley, the association began with competitions at local venues before moving to the Assembly Hall. Our headquarters is now based at the Warragul Leisure Centre, which opened in 1986 and has been expanded to meet growing demand. The association has a proud tradition of developing elite basketball talent, most notably Dean Vickerman, who is currently the head coach of NBL team Melbourne United and was appointed associate head coach for the Australian Boomers in March 2025.

WBA operates across 8 basketball courts at 5 venues throughout Baw Baw Shire, including our headquarters at Warragul Leisure Centre, alongside facilities at Bellbird Park Drouin, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar, Neerim South, and Bunyip, providing accessible basketball opportunities across the region.

WBA is managed by a board of directors that provides the strategic direction of the association including the conduct, encouragement, promotion and administration of basketball throughout Gippsland, Baw Baw Shire and its surrounding areas. We conduct introductory basketball programs including Aussie Hoops for children of all abilities and ages, representative pathways through our Warragul Warriors teams competing in VJBL, CBL, and JCC, and will return to Big V competition in 2026. The association supports seven local member clubs and works closely with schools throughout the local community to grow participation in basketball.

Basketball in Warragul began in the early 1970s when John Vickerman returned to the area and found no basketball being played. A committee was formed and operated for about two years before securing a suitable venue to begin competitions. The Warragul and District Amateur Basketball Association (WDABA) was officially formed in 1972/73 under the leadership of founding pioneers including Lester Mason (who served as President for approximately 8 years), John Vickerman, Peter Juratowitch, Brendan Beasley, and Daryl Donaldson as the first secretary.

The first domestic clubs were established during this era, including the Gladiators (led by John Vickerman), Pubtrotters (John Gilchrist and Lorraine Moss), Vikings (Peter Juratowitch), Celtics (Lester Mason), and Rebels (Brendan Beasley). The association even conducted a doorknock fundraising campaign across the town over a weekend to support the growing sport.

The opening of Warragul Leisure Centre in 1986 marked a transformative moment for the association, providing three full-size courts and establishing our headquarters that continues today. This period saw the expansion of facilities across the region, with Bellbird Park receiving its second court around 2000, the construction of Neerim South stadium, and St Paul’s being built around 2000.

The association began running tournaments around 1987, initially featuring senior competitions in February. In a testament to the quality of basketball in Warragul, the tournaments occasionally attracted NBL teams including the Coburg Giants and Nunawading Spectres.

In the early 1980s, the Gippsland League was formed through collaboration between Peter Juratowitch and Jack Vanstone from Pakenham, creating a home and away inter-town Sunday competition for senior men’s and women’s teams and U16 boys and girls. The league initially consisted of Pakenham, Sherbrooke, Warragul, Poowong, Korumburra, Leongatha, Phillip Island, and Wonthaggi, later expanding to include East and West Gippsland divisions.

While the association initially focused primarily on domestic competitions, representative basketball began to take shape around 1977 with the first known rep team—an U18 boys team featuring Greg Jefferies and Jack Taylor. By the time the association moved to the Assembly Hall with access five nights a week, the junior competition became more structured and squad teams began to be formed under the guidance of John Vickerman, Peter Juratowitch, and John Gilchrist.

Warragul developed a reputation as a legitimate breeding ground for elite basketball talent. Notable success includes the 1992 U14 Girls Division 2 Country Champions and numerous players progressing to state representative programs and beyond.

From 2001 to 2009, Warragul competed in the VBL/Big V competition, achieving remarkable success including:

• 2004 and 2005: Runners-up in Division One
• 2006: Division Two Big V Championships (defeating Maccabi in 3 games)
• Multiple individual honors for players including Mike Santo (3x All-Star, League MVP 2005, League Scoring Title 2005, Finals MVP 2006 with 54 points in Game 1)

Most notably, the association has developed Dean Vickerman, who progressed through Warragul’s junior system to become head coach of NBL team Melbourne United and was appointed associate head coach for the Australian Boomers in March 2025.

The association underwent comprehensive governance and business development processes, developing a new Strategic Plan in 2023-2028 with the vision “To provide high quality and inclusive basketball experiences.” The constitution was updated in 2020, and a new board of seven members was adopted in October 2021.

WBA successfully advocated for a two-court expansion to the Warragul Leisure Centre, reflecting the association’s continued growth and ambition. Today, the association operates across 8 courts at 5 venues throughout Baw Baw Shire, supporting seven local member clubs and over 300 teams competing weekly.

Looking ahead, Warragul Basketball will return to Big V competition in 2026 as an independent entity, building on our proud championship legacy and continuing our tradition of developing elite basketball talent in the Gippsland region.