Ellen (Richardson) Coates

Ellen Richardson (Coates) was one of the first generation of women’s basketballers in Queensland. With her sister Annette, Ellen first played basketball in 1955 at Davies Park in West End with the Shamrocks Club in the Brisbane Women’s Basket Ball Association.

It is clear that Ellen was an outstanding player in an outstanding team, as Shamrocks won ten consecutive “A” grade premierships. When the Brisbane Women’s Amateur Basketball Association was formed in 1960 as an affiliate of QABA, in1962 the Shamrocks Club affiliated and became associate members of North West District’s men’s Club which had been formed by the amalgamation of various teams.

The amalgamation was strengthened by several marriages within the new club. The club was headed by Phillip and Cilva Russell (BQ Life Member and member of the QBHF). Ellen married Don Coates (BQ Life Member and former state representative player), and her sister married another club player, Jim Spencer.

From the outset, Ellen became a Brisbane representative player in Queensland state championships from 1954 to 1963, captaining the team and winning several state championships. Ellen was selected to represent Queensland at the Australian Women’s Basketball Championships from 1957 to 1961 and she captained the Queensland team at these championships in 1960 and 1961,

In addition to her playing, Ellen became involved in the administration of the sport including becoming the fixture secretary of the Brisbane Amateur basketball Association which also involved a lot of refereeing as there was a dearth of referees. Ellen (Richardson) Coates is an outstanding beacon in the development of Women’s Basketball in Queensland and is a most worthy nominee for the Queensland Basketball Hall of Fame.