Patrick Doherty — 16 April 2016

To hear that Bill has passed away saddens me greatly. At 81, too young to go. My first memory of Bill dated from the middle 1960s. He encouraged and advised me as a young student teacher in setting up the Christ Church Basketball Club in St.Kilda. He was my role model in those early days when he set up a basketball association at Altona North Tech School, and fielded rep teams in the old VJABC competition; teams that played a fearsome full court zone. In the late 1980s he helped me at St.Kilda Police Boys then in recent times helped set up the now flourishing Port Phillip Association. In my view, while respected by all, Bill did his best work introducing government school kids to basketball, as well as soccer and his coaching and encouragement led so many to state honours. I will always remember Bill as a dedicated man who extended his professionalism as a teacher from the school scene to the wider community. And as a talented and innovative coach at the highest junior levels. In the basketball community Bill leaves behind so many great people who owe their involvement to his encouragement. Goodbye Bill.