Margaret Groves

Margie started playing basketball in 1972 at Brisbane Basketball Incorporated for Postels Club and remained a member and served on the committee until 1993.  In 1973 Margie became a referee and is still refereeing Monday through Friday. To complete the trifecta, in 1984 she became the WNBL “Lady Bullets” Manager and performed that role until 1992.  In 1990 she was awarded the WNBL Manager of the Year. 

Margie has played an integral role in shaping the decisions making in our sport.  From 1986-1989 she was selected onto the WNBL Management Committee.  During these years, Margie was also on the Brisbane Basketball Incorporated Management Committee.  Two of major decisions that were made during this time was to sell half the licence of the Brisbane Bullets Men to a private consortium. The other major decision was to pass the approval of two new courts to be transferred to Southern Districts. 

In 1995 Margie came to the Darkside Family, initially refereeing both junior and senior competitions and acting as a referee coach for junior referees.  In 1999 Trish Cockrem was recruited to Coach the Lady Spartans program and stipulated that she wanted Margie to be the Manager.   That year we won the ABA National Championship.  I asked Margie to reflect on her career at Spartans, and this is what she had to say: 

My 30 years at SDBAL has been a wonderful and eventful experience. I have been honoured with a life membership.  I have been on the Board at different times, holding different positions like Vice President.  I have received many Manager of the Year awards.  I have fund raised much money for the club, I think my favourite year was when with the assistance of Rhonda Griffin and my son Brodie when we raised approx. $7000.00. From Bunnings BBQs.  Our Naming rights sponsor Carina Leagues Club have been amazing throughout the last 25 years – they came on board when it wasn’t “The Thing” to sponsor womens teams – thanks for supporting us. Wade Core has been the man behind the scenes supporting us in every way.  Some would say I’m a Basketball Junkie – I suppose I am, being in the sport for over 50 years (Margie asked me to remind you that she started playing at two).  Summing my life in basketball has given me many lifelong friends (and probably enemies). I have met 2 husbands at basketball, not sure if that’s a good thing.  People come and go but I’m still here and hope to be for a long time yet.  I found the Darkside Family and I love it here.