VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated

22/02/2026

Announcement - Brooke Kennedy - Life Member of VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated

A massive congratulations goes out to our very own Brooke Kennedy who was awarded Life Membership today at our Annual General Meeting.

Brooke was nominated by Sam Viergever & Stephen Cavanagh to the 2025 Committee, and the members overwhelming accepted the recommendation of the Committee today.

Brooke is pictured here after receiving her Life Membership with mother Lisa Gordyn and father Jeremy Gordyn.

Overview:

Brooke commenced her officiating at Knox in February 2007, completing a Referee Course run by Anthony Aulsebrook at the Knox Stadium in Boronia. For over nineteen years, Brooke has been a larger-than-life contributor to our Branch and someone who has displayed great leadership and professionalism both on and off the court.

Brooke has balanced raising a young family during her time on the Committee, at the same time as organizing ten Referee Development Camps (including one which was conducted virtually during COVID-19), our 40 Year Anniversary Dinner, almost one hundred Committee and Supervisor Meetings, Life Members Dinners and countless End of Year events.

Whilst Brooke has had some time away from the court, not necessarily running out games every week whilst raising her young family, her contribution behind the scenes has been nothing short of outstanding. Brooke has spent eleven consecutive years on the Committee so far, with almost all that time being responsible for organizing the Major Events our Association runs every year, not to mention Branch Secretary for the past four years.

Not only has Brooke been outstanding in her role as a Committee Member, she has also been a fantastic mentor to younger Referees and a well-respected and loved Session Supervisor. Brooke has had several stints across the years, notably currently taking on one of the biggest roles within the Association as the Saturday Rostering Supervisor as well as the Sunday Referee Supervisor Role.

In reflecting back on Brooke’s contribution across her time at VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated, it is clear that she has been an incredible role model, with the impact of her hard work impossible to measure.

Brooke has contributed so significantly to our Association, that she is an extremely worthy recipient of Life Membership of the VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 🎄

Wishing all members of VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated and their families a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

Thanks for the effort, commitment, and support throughout 2025. Enjoy the break, recharge, and we’ll see you back on court soon.

28/11/2025

Good luck to all our VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated referees heading up to the Gold Coast for the Australian School Championships next week!

We’re backing you all the way! Go smash it and make the branch proud!

11/10/2025

Today was National Referee Day.

A day dedicated to the incredible people who wear the black and white and make our game possible.

Across Australia, thousands of referees step onto courts every week. not for the spotlight, not for the recognition, but for the love of the game and the drive to give back to their basketball community. From early morning juniors to late-night senior games, referees are there. They’re teaching, learning, managing the pressure, and doing it all with professionalism, integrity, and pride.

At VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated, we’re lucky to have one of the strongest referee communities in the country. Our officials don’t just blow the whistle... they lead, inspire, and set the standard for what it means to be part of a team that values growth, inclusion, and respect. Whether it’s a new referee doing their first U10s game or an experienced official working on the biggest stages in the country, every one of them plays a vital role in shaping the future of basketball.

Refereeing isn’t easy. It takes confidence, resilience, and a love for continuous improvement. It means making split-second decisions, managing emotions, and handling the unpredictable all while keeping the game flowing and fair. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things you can do in sport. It builds confidence, community, and lifelong friendships.

So today, we say thank you.
To every referee who steps onto the court.
To every mentor who gives their time to develop others.
To every supervisor, administrator, and volunteer who supports our program behind the scenes.
And to every player, coach, and spectator who shows respect and appreciation you help make the referee pathway stronger.

Basketball doesn’t happen without referees.
And we couldn’t be prouder of ours.

Happy National Referee Day!🏀

Thank you to all of our referees for the hard work and dedication you put into making our game possible🙌

02/10/2025

🎉🎂 Happy 47th Birthday to VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated! 🎂🎉

Today we celebrate 47 years of KBRA / VBRA Knox. Nearly half a century of referees, supervisors, referee coaches, rosterers, committee members and executives all working together to keep the game alive at Knox Basketball

From green shirts taking their very first steps, to referees now running games on Big V, NBL1 and beyond. It’s the people behind the stripes who’ve made this program what it is.

A massive thank you to everyone past and present who’s refereed, supervised, coached and mentored over the years. Without you, we wouldn’t be here 47 years later!

Here’s to the history, the people, and the future of refereeing at VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated!

08/09/2025

🎬✨ It’s here! Behind the Stripes – Episode 1 is officially LIVE!

For our very first episode, host Hayden Bence sits down with Charlie Schnitzler a Level 1 referee and the Treasurer of VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated. Charlie opens up about life on the whistle, the balance between being out on court and managing responsibilities behind the scenes, plus shares a few laughs and stories along the way.

This new series is all about celebrating referees and their journeys. Pulling back the curtain on the people in the stripes, the challenges they face, and the moments that make it all worthwhile.

Charlie sets the bar high for Episode 1, and Hayden keeps the conversation real, fun, and insightful. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be “behind the stripes,” this is your front-row seat.

👉 Watch here: https://youtu.be/_mPQHCpJP7Q

02/09/2025

Congratulations to Ryann Sullivan on being appointed to his 200th Big V game!

On Saturday night, Ryann hit this incredible milestone. What makes this even more special is that the milestone came with his appointment to the Championship Men’s Grand Final, one of the biggest stages in Victorian basketball.

Reaching 200 games is no small feat. It represents years of hard work, consistency, and dedication to the craft. Ryann has shown time and again that he’s not just capable of handling the pressure of elite games, but also of setting an example for referees coming through the ranks.

We couldn’t be prouder of Ryann Sullivan for this achievement. Here’s to many more games, finals, and milestones to come!

16/08/2025

Today at the State Basketball Centre, Daniel Battye was appointed Crew Chief for the NBL1 South Women’s Grand Final.

This appointment is a huge reflection of the effort and commitment Daniel has put into his refereeing. From weeknight domestic games to the elite level, he’s shown outstanding leadership and consistency, and to see him trusted with the season’s biggest women’s game is an incredible achievement.

Supporting from the sidelines, David Pretty was appointed as Referee Coach for the game. David’s calm approach and dedication to developing referees are well respected across the game, and his appointment to the WNBL this year shows just how highly regarded he is.
To have him guiding the team through such a high-pressure Grand Final is something we are extremely proud of.

Having both Daniel and David representing VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated on such a stage is truly special. Congratulations to you both on an outstanding achievement!

16/08/2025

At the State Basketball Centre this evening, Sam Viergever was appointed as Umpire 2 for the NBL1 South Men’s Grand Final.

This appointment is a fantastic recognition of the season he’s had. On top of being selected to the WNBL this year, Sam continues to show the commitment, consistency, and professionalism that makes him one of VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated strongest referees. To see him rewarded with a Grand Final is a milestone we are very proud of.

Alongside him, Armann Kumruyan was appointed as Referee Coach. Armann plays a huge role in mentoring and developing referees, both at Knox and across the wider community. His appointment to the Grand Final coaching role highlights the respect he has earned for the work he does, both on game day and behind the scenes.

Both Sam and Armann have done an outstanding job representing VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated on such a big stage. Congratulations to you both on this well-deserved recognition!

15/08/2025

VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated would like to congratulate Armann Kumruyan on being named the Neil Bradbury NBL1 South Referee Coach of the Year!

Armann puts in countless hours behind the scenes, coaching and developing referees at all levels. His guidance and support have helped so many officials improve their game, and this award is a great recognition of all the work he does.

Well done Armann!

15/08/2025

VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated would like to give a massive congratulations to Daniel Battye on being named NBL1 South Women’s Conference Referee of the Year!

Daniel has worked incredibly hard throughout his officiating career and has undoubtedly become one of the best referees in the country. This award is a fantastic recognition of his dedication, skill, and the high standards he brings to the game.

Well done, Daniel!

26/06/2025

At VBRA Knox Branch Incorporated, we believe that creating a supportive environment for our referees starts with looking after each other. That includes mental health.

That’s why on Monday, June 23rd and Tuesday, June 24th, 8 of our committee members completed a Mental Health First Aid course.

It was a powerful couple of days focused on learning how to recognise the signs, start important conversations, and offer support when it's needed most.

A big thank you to Knox Basketball for backing this initiative and covering the cost. Your support makes a real difference.

This is just one step in our ongoing commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our referee community, both on and off the court.