Member Profile - Sue Leedham

This week we spotlight our Foundation Member Sue Leedham – who signed up for membership the first hour they went on sale! Sue has a long history with basketball in Tasmania, with Life Memberships from local clubs Hobart Phoenix and Glenorchy Revellers.

Sue, tell us about your involvement in basketball?

Well…it’s a long involvement! I started out with junior girls in Hobart and saw the sport grow for girls, and I was involved in 4 Australian junior championships. After moving to New Norfolk with my husband I was involved with the commencement of basketball in New Norfolk for men, women, boys and girls. And in 1994 I was chair of the women’s world basketball championships pre-lim round in Hobart which was 4 teams in Hobart for 3 nights. We spent 2 years getting ready for it but only had it on for 3 nights… it was probably the biggest event Hobart’s had for women’s basketball! (We haven’t even had a men’s here either, so biggest event for basketball you could say!)

I left my full-time job working as a law clerk, and took the big step of going part-time to work in sport! I worked as an administrator with the Tassie Devils. I was then the Chargers administrator from 97 to 2015… too long!

And tell us, what do you think of the JackJumpers and NBL being back in Tasmania?

Oh I’m very pleased! I see it as a great role model for boys and girls – they’ve gotta have their heroes! Someone they can reach out and touch and see. I’m looking forward to seeing the JackJumpers out in the community, and hopefully some Tasmanians making the top 6 or 7 or 8! I know that seeing players like Anthony Stewart and Mark Nash through the ranks, gives all the young kids someone to look up to, to inspire them that they can make it!

You’ve volunteered a lot of your time over the years for basketball. What would you say to others interested in volunteering for the JackJumpers, or other community basketball groups?

I got great satisfaction as a volunteer for the Chargers. I made a lot of friends. And of course the success made it! And I had some wonderful glory days with the Chargers in their success. Through the Chargers I met and made many friendships throughout Australia and the world. We had an amazing group of generous game-night volunteers, who worked for 20+ years!

Of course it wasn’t all fun and games. There was the great melee between the NW Thunder and the Chargers! That caused me a lot of grief as an administrator. Was probably played over 100 times on TV. People thought it was hilarious, a bit of argy bargy that got out of control. A lot of grief at the time... but I can laugh about it now

(Pictured above left to right with Dianna Peppin, Sue Leedham, Tim Leedham (late), Kate Clark, Jacqui Own)