History of the Colac Basketball Association:

The beginnings of the then un-named Colac Amateur Basketball Association can be traced back to the late fifties, when 27 local football teams played basketball in the off season at the box factory, next to the old fire station.  The association grew in number and in stature, when they ‘progressed’ in the early nineteen sixties, to playing on a one court, concreted floor at the Hall of Manufactures at the Colac Show Grounds.  Although the hall (loosely named as it is a corrugated iron and concrete floor structure) is still an integral part of the Colac Show and its annual event, the association has been housed in its present location, at the Bluewater Fitness Centre (formally the Colac Recreation Centre) for the past 35 years.

The Colac association has always had a very strong club based competition, with its origins beginning in the late 60’s when a group of Colac girls started playing in the 50 mile away Geelong competition.  Needing a proper name, and with a link to the Geelong Saints basketball club, they named themselves the Saints.  On their return to the Colac competition, the girls maintained their adopted name and eventually the club was officially formed. 

This Club culture was backed up with more club teams, including current members, Rebels, Demons and Hawks.  The local Colac Youth Club also had a very strong presence throughout the years, but have fell away of late to no longer compete in the Colac association.  The association had a lot of like-minded people who could see the need for a proper club based system, and with some opposition and after two failed attempts, the current club based system was introduced into the association in the early seventies.

The representative team scene in Colac has been littered with successes, both at a senior and junior level.  As a regular competitor at the old Country Week for seniors, and the defunct Shell Country Championship series for juniors, the first Colac junior representative team broke through for a win in 1980.  This success was feted with photos in the local Colac Herald and stories of how the team was demoralized after a defeat by Wangaratta in the preliminary games by a large margin, but was able to turn it around and win the state title against them in the final.

Current association Treasurer and local basketball stalwart, Bev Bauer, has been recognized for her tireless work by Basketball Victoria Country Council, by winning the Jack Terrill Medal in 1993 and also Life Membership.