The Bagot "All Black" Basketball team. They formed in 1953, just five years after the newly established NT Basketball Association held its first competition in Darwin and quickly became "all the rage", according to the papers at the time. Ahead of their first season, the Bagot team was reportedly "wearing out balls in practice matches at the rate of about one every ten days". Their games held at a boxing stadium in Cavenagh Street drew big crowds, many of whom came to see the talents of defence Jack White (squatting third from the left), who was known for his speed and "coolness under pressure". The team even funded equipment by repeat performances of a corroboree performed to the Queen and Duke on their 1954 tour. An exhibition celebrating 70 years of basketball is now on at Northern Territory Library until 26 May, developed with basketball legend Maisie Austin.

Image: Harney McCaffery Collection, Northern Territory Library

Published: 14 April 2019