Basketball legend acknowledged

ASHLEY Donaldson has seen them all come through his basketball programs over the years.

From NBA stars like Matthew Dellavedova and Dyson Daniels to the elite of the AFL including Dyson Heppell and “best of the lot” Scott Pendlebury.

It’s Mr Donaldsons’ service to local basketball and athletes in general that saw him awarded a medal in the Order of Australia Medal on 26 January.

It’s an honour he said he never dreamt of receiving, but he is thrilled to be alive to see it.

“You know how people say I dreamed of winning this or that, well this had never entered my mind,” he said.

“I used to see who won the sporting medals and a lot of them had deceased next to their name, and I always thought I hope never have deceased next to my name if an award comes out in the paper.

“So, at the moment I am shortening to be here on the day.”

Mr Donaldson has a long service record when it comes to local sporting programs.

He has been part of the Bendigo Jockey Club for over 50 years and is a member of the Bendigo Sportsman Association.

Sports administration is something Mr Donaldson always had an affinity for.

“My wife hated me going to a meeting,” he said. “I would come home, and I’d be president or in some other role. I’ve always been an organiser.

However, it’s basketball where Mr Donaldson has had the greatest impact, working for Basketball Victorian Country from 1996 to 2011.

He was also a board member of the Bendigo Braves from 1985 to 1996 and was on the formation committee of WNBL side the Bendigo Spirit.

Mr Donaldson’s involvement in basketball all comes to down to happenstance he said.

“When I came to Bendigo in 1960, I had a couple of clubs chasing me for footy, Eaglehawk and South Bendigo were a couple but anyway Golden Square got me a job,” he said.

“In 1960 they had a A-Grade team in the summer basketball comp, which was more or less footballers keeping fit and they asked if I wanted to play.

“Had I of signed for one of the other clubs I may never have played basketball and may never have been involved in the sport.”