Fred Van Dongen

Respected life member of Basketball Queensland (QABA 1984), Fred Van Dongen’s extraordinary contribution to basketball in Brisbane and Queensland, commenced during the 1963-1964 season in Brisbane, when he first played for Inala in a social competition.In 1967, Fred commenced what became an unbroken 37-years of service as a member of the management committee of Brisbane Basketball, serving for more than a decade as Junior Secretary, 11 years as Treasurer, and appointment as the inaugural Executive Director in 1988 until his retirement from full-time basketball administration in 2004.

In 1974, Fred was invited to be treasurer of the then Queensland Amateur Basketball Association, performing exceptionally in this additional role for 20 years until 1993, as well as a Board member of Basketball Queensland from 1974 to 2001.Driven by foresight and passion for the sport, November 1978 saw Fred Van Dongen contribute to the planning and eventual inception the National Basketball League (NBL), a competition which would include the Brisbane Bullets as a foundation team.

Fred’s involvement in the Bullets' administration team, not only as a committee member but also as the longest serving NBL team manager in the history of the league, was integral to the development of the team’s culture that helped to deliver the Bullets’ glory years of the mid-1980s. Fred Van Dongen’s commitment encompassed involvement with the WNBL where he inspired the name change from the Lady Bullets to the Brisbane Blazers and served as head of the Blazers' administration team from 1988 to 1993.

His support for all facets of the sport has also been reflected in the importance placed on the development of referees and the funding of referee education programs within his administration roles.

Fred was at the forefront in the introduction, promotion and development of the Queensland State Basketball League. This, along with championing his love of junior basketball through successful coaching, managing and funding, has continued to be an exceptional development vehicle for players, coaches, referees and administrators, and extraordinary basketball entertainment for the community generally, for more than three decades.

Following on from Fred’s formal roles he has continued to generously serve basketball in multiple volunteer capacities, including as an ongoing vital member of the Brisbane Basketball Management Committee, membership of the Basketball Queensland Honours and Awards Committee, organiser within the Saturday junior competition and regular chair of judiciary committees.

“A man for all jobs”, Fred Van Dongen’s more than half-a-century service to the development of basketball in Queensland, in official and voluntary capacities, has been characterised by astute financial and administrative guidance, honesty, integrity and a generosity of spirit. It is in