SURFERS PARADISE – FIBA in Oceania held its biannual congress this past weekend where the 2016 Member of Honour Award winners were announced.

The Member of Honour Award is presented to an individual whose service to Basketball and FIBA Oceania has been deemed exemplary over a ten-year period and worthy of FIBA Oceania’s highest honour.

This year the distinguished award winners include former FIBA in Oceania Presidents Bob Elphinston (2002-2006 and 2010-2014), Barbara Wheadon (2006-2010) and a well deserving nominee to be revealed at a later date.

Elphinston was the President of FIBA Oceania from 2002-2006, and was elected FIBA (World) President 2006-2010. 

In 2010, Elphinston was re-elected as the President of FIBA Oceania for the 2010-2014 period, and held a position on the FIBA Central Board in that same period. During this period, Bob was President of the International Basketball Foundation and was instrumental in leading the construction of the FIBA House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland.

Elphinston currently sits on the Board of the Australian National Basketball League and is the President of Basketball New South Wales as well maintaining. A lifelong fascination with sport has led Elphinston from the playgrounds and ovals of childhood to where he is now recognised as one of the most respected sports administrators in the world with a particular and long involvement in Basketball since 1961.

Barbara Wheadon served on the FIBA Oceania Board from 2002 until 2014 and was President of this organisation between 2006 and 2010. During the same period, she was able to represent Oceania on the FIBA Central Board for 12-years. 

Wheadon has maintained a lifelong connection with basketball in New Zealand as a player, coach, referee and administrator.  With over 40-yars of involvement from the community and national level in New Zealand which was recognised with a Life Membership to Basketball New Zealand and a prestigious NZ Order of Merit in 2006 for services to Basketball.

FIBA in Oceania Executive Officer David Crocker expressed his gratitude towards this years members of honour.

FIBA in Oceania is extremely proud to be able to recognise people who give so much of their time, talents and knowledge to the sport of basketball and FIBA in Oceania. We are truly grateful for their amazing efforts and the efforts of everyone around Oceania and the World making the same scarifies for our wonderful game.

FIBA