Rayleen Lynch (Decker)

Rayleen Lynch was born in Cairns and became a multi-sport prodigy, gaining representative honours in basketball, tennis, softball, and athletics. After being introduced to basketball at St. Monica’s College in Cairns, Rayleen started playing club basketball for Saints then joined CYM. Rayleen also played club basketball in Cairns for Dominos and at the age of 16-years was recruited to play in Brisbane for North-West Districts.

Rayleen captained the Far North Queensland women’s team from 1963 until 1968. In 1963 Rayleen first represented Queensland in basketball when she was selected in the team to contest the Australian championship in Perth. Rayleen continued to represent Queensland until 1973, taking time out to have her children, and being selected as captain in 1966 and 1967.

In 1967 Rayleen was selected to represent Australia on a tour of Europe which culminated in participation in the World Championships in 1967 in Prague. With this selection Rayleen became the first Queensland basketballer to represent Australia.

In 2008 Rayleen Decker and Danny Morseu were among those inducted into the Cairns Basketball Hall of Fame. Rayleen (Lynch) [Brady] Decker is a pioneer of elite basketball in Queensland. She is a very worthy member of the Class of 2016 of the Queensland Basketball Hall of Fame.