In 2026, Basketball Queensland proudly celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Queensland Under 18 Women’s team that represented the state at the inaugural Australian Junior Championships in Adelaide.

Held at Forestville Stadium from 16–21 May 1966, the championships marked a significant milestone in Australian basketball history, bringing together the nation’s emerging young talent for the first-ever national junior competition.

Queensland’s women rose to the occasion, producing an outstanding tournament to finish third overall and secure their place in the history books as one of the state's pioneering representative teams.

The squad reflected the truly statewide nature of basketball in Queensland, with athletes selected from communities across the state. A particularly strong contingent came from regional North Queensland and country centres, including Kingaroy, Cairns, Mackay and Goondiwindi, highlighting the depth of talent already developing throughout Queensland during the sport’s formative years.

The team was coached by Delma Behm, whose leadership helped guide the group through the historic event, while Lyn McGrath had the honour of captaining the side during the championships.

At a time when basketball was still establishing itself across Australia, opportunities to travel interstate and compete against the nation's best were rare. The commitment shown by the players, coaches, team officials and their families helped lay the foundations for the pathways and representative programs that Queensland athletes benefit from today.

Over the past six decades, Queensland has produced countless state, national and international representatives, but those achievements can be traced back to trailblazing teams such as the 1966 Under 18 Women’s side, who helped demonstrate the strength and potential of basketball in our state.

As Basketball Queensland reflects on this significant anniversary, we proudly acknowledge and celebrate the athletes and staff who represented Queensland at the inaugural Australian Junior Championships. Their dedication, courage and pioneering spirit helped shape the future of basketball in Queensland.

We value the contribution of every athlete and team staff member involved in this historic campaign and recognise the rich history Queensland has in basketball, along with the people whose efforts laid the foundation for the generations that followed.