Barry Raftery

Barry Raftery’s more than 60 years involvement in basketball has encompassed his time as a player, as a coach, as an administrator and as a consultant.

Barry was first introduced to basketball in Toowoomba at the age of 14 years by his grandmother’s neighbours Danny, Bob and Joe Smith who, in 1948, were among the pioneers of basketball in Toowoomba.

In 1956 Barry and several fellow workers from Piggott’s department store joined together to form Piggott’s Basketball Club. Piggott’s became the powerhouse basketball team in Toowoomba in the 1960s and 1970s, winning more than ten straight premierships.

Barry began coaching in 1963 as an assistant coach for the Toowoomba Men’s team before taking charge of the Queensland Senior Men’s team in 1966 and 1969. It was during this time that Barry formed the Toowoomba Mountaineers alongside Joe Smith, Barry Neilsen and Neville Bousen to compete in the Pacific Conference.

From 1968 Barry Raftery coached the Mountaineers for 15 years, during which time the Mountaineers became embedded into the sporting and civic culture of Toowoomba.

Barry’s presence in basketball was as impressive away from the court, becoming the first president of the Toowoomba Basketball Association in 1971 after the amalgamation of the separate Toowoomba Men’s and Women’s Basketball Associations.

Barry has also held an administration position with the Toowoomba State League team, was an inaugural Director of the Toowoomba Sports Club as the representative of Toowoomba Basketball Association, and served as a councillor of the Toowoomba City Council.

In recognition of his outstanding service to basketball in particular, Barry has received a number of Awards including, Life Member of the Toowoomba Basketball Association and a Member of the Toowoomba Mountaineers Hall of Fame.

It is fitting that this great servant of the game be inducted into the Queensland Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021.

Sadly, Barry passed away in January, 2022.