CLICK HERE for an interview with Lorraine Landon.
This week at the AIS Arena in Canberra, Australia, while the New Zealand Tall Ferns and the Australian Opals were taking stock of their first half performances, FIBA Oceania was making an important presentation and announcement on centre court.
Earlier in the year at the FIBA Oceania Congress in Saipan, Northern Marianas, the organisation had announced the names of 40 men and women from the 21 member countries of the region who had made a significant contribution to the growth and development of basketball in FIBA Oceania’s first 40 years.
One of the recipients of that award, Lorraine Landon from Australia, could not be present in Saipan to receive her award, but through her involvement with Basketball Australia as their Manager of National Teams and National Competitions, she was present in Canberra to see the Opals take on the Tall Ferns.
So was FIBA President Bob Elphinston who was enjoying one of his all too brief moments in the country of his birth before heading to South Africa for further FIBA commitments.
Last night provided an opportunity for the FIBA President to present a commemorative plaque to Lorraine Landon acknowledging her as one of ‘40 movers and shapers’ of the first 40 years of FIBA Oceania.
FIBA Oceania paid a further tribute to the contribution of Lorraine Landon to basketball and especially women’s basketball by announcing last night that the next time Australia and New Zealand meet in Oceania Competition, besides whatever else may be up for grabs at that time, they will be competing for the honour of winning the Landon Shield.
Male players have since 2001 competed in Oceania for the Ramsay Shield and FIBA Oceania administrators felt it was time to add a little extra interest and spice to contests between the Australian and New Zealand women’s team by having a perpetual trophy to compete for.
With a long playing and administration career in basketball and participation at the highest level of World Basketball, Landon was the obvious person after whom to name the Oceania Women’s Trophy. Landon presently heads the International Basketball Federation’s Women’s Commission, was the basketball competition manager at the Sydney Olympic Games, has been honoured by FIBA and the IOC for her contribution to basketball globally and the announcement of the Landon Shield will be a small additional recognition that is appropriate and well deserved.
Photo by Guil Hornos for Kangaroo Photo shows FIBA President Bob Elphinston presenting Lorraine Landon with a plaque in recognition of being named as one of 40 Movers and Shakers in FIBA Oceania's first 40 years.
Words by FIBA Oceania
