That’s because this year’s recipient, Neil Walker, was in Ballarat coaching the Under 16 girls Yarrawonga Mulwala Lakers basketball team in the state championships.
Neil received the framed certificate of Godfather of the Year 2020 last Wednesday evening from Godfathers President Graeme Wilson.
Mr Wilson congratulated Neil, describing him as “a very worthy Godfather of the Year” who “just goes on and on giving so much to basketball”. “It’s a great honour,” the 61-year-old retired chemical engineer from Australian Munitions Mulwala said.
“The Godfathers is a great organisation and to the community. They’ve often supported basketball as well as other sports.”
Neil started playing basketball at age eight in Mitcham, Melbourne, then played all his junior years at Nunawading when the new stadium was built in 1971.
His father Alan, who had a football background, stepped in to coach. “He knew nothing about basketball, but that’s just what you did to help out,” Neil’s wife Jo said.
“Neil qualified at age 14 as an umpire and played in various competitions at Albert Park and across Melbourne.
“They even played a game as 16-18 Year old kids inside Pentridge prison against fully grown prisoners, something that wouldn’t happen today.
“Neil played in a team at Monash University where they continued to play on as the Blue Hoons from many years and remain good friends 40 years on.”
In 1980 Neil came to Yarrawonga to work at the explosives factory in Mulwala as a graduate engineer. He was instrumental at setting up the Club system of basketball in Yarrawonga where he played with the Rangers.
For juniors to play in neighbouring towns, Neil obtained his heavy vehicle licence to transport them in a minibus.
In 1986 Neil left Yarrawonga to travel overseas to explore the world. He went back to Melbourne, married Jo and has two daughters Emily and Danielle. Neil continued to play basketball with his mates in the Blue Hoons.
In 2002 Neil returned to Yarrawonga with his family. His daughters played in the domestic competition in Yarrawonga where of course Neil coached them. It was a weekly ritual to hang out those team singlets on the clothes line for many years.
Neil worked with the Yarrawonga association committee and is a past president.
Neil’s daughter played representative basketball for Wangaratta as Yarrawonga only had a mixed competition and no rep teams. He took on the team manager role and continued to coach Wang Warrior rep teams for several years after his daughter had finished playing.
Many nights were spent travelling up and down the Yarra -Wang road at night. Yarrawonga formed rep sides Yarra Mul Lakers and Neil has coached girls and boys teams. This involves travelling around country Victoria playing in weekend tournaments as far as Ballarat, Bendigo and Swan Hill for seven months of the year.
Neil, who was Powder Production Manager at Thales upon his retirement in 2019, has such a passion for basketball and gives so much to the sport.
It’s that passion which could see him continue putting so much back to the game for the foreseeable future.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Basketball Association President Amanda Wheaton described Neil as “a well respected person in our club who has a lot of knowledge about basketball over many years”.
“He has input into our club as a club coach and representative coach. He’s a selfless guy whose always got a smile on his face. It’s wonderful news he’s being named as Godfather of the Year. Congratulations Neil!”
