ABOUT PERTH SPECTRES

Kaya! (which means hello in the Noongar language) and welcome to the Perth Spectres Basketball Club (the Perth Spectres). Founded in November 2019, the Perth Spectres are the Western Australian contingent of Spectres Australia. Spectres Australia was founded in 2001, and since then, has been a well-known and much loved part of the Australian and International LGBTIQA+ sporting and basketball community.

Our values are RESPECT, COMMUNITY and FRIENDSHIP, and we pride ourselves on being community first, basketball second. We strive to create an environment where you feel welcome, wholeheartedly accepted and celebrated, all whilst playing a great game of ball.

So if you are looking to meet some like minded people, form some awesome friendships and get fit at the same time, we are the place for you! Hope to see you down on the court soon!

Meet the passionate committee of volunteers at the Perth Spectres Basketball Club, devoting their time and energy to championing inclusive BASKETBALL in Perth.

Meet the Committee

Our 2024 Committee is excited to lead Perth Spectres this year! Our number one priority in our first meeting of the year was to identify our vision and values. Our vision is that we will be:

Confidence builders - seeing our members and players develop and grow, on and off the court.
Future thinkers - through giving back to Spectres, we hope to set up the club for future sustainability.
Community minded - driving and maintaining a warm, welcoming culture.
Inclusive and consultative - we want a Club that is run by our members, and actively listen to people's ideas.

Our values are:

Transparent and Respectful - we aim to make the best possible decisions that are supported by robust discussion.
Proactive and Curious - we will be committed and show interest in what we do and what we could do.
Togetherness - we will support one another and be achievement-focused so that our experience is positive.
Welcoming and Compassionate - we are committed to diversity and inclusion, and showing kindness to each other.

CLUB LEADER

Mark Fallows (he/they)

Mark has been a member of Perth Spectres since it started in 2019. At the time, Mark had never played basketball before but thought it would be a great fit for someone his height. Mark is passionate about inclusion and diversity; and loves playing with a club that welcomes all people no matter their ability, gender, sexuality, or cultural background. He has been a Spectres committee member for most of the club's duration and has returned as Club Leader after a year off.

He has also advocated to the WA Government on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community. This has involved sharing his lived experience to support the need for reforms to make WA a safer and more accepting place for his community. He has courageously shared his story at many workplaces and at the 2022 BASKET-BALL and Albany Pride. This story involves past experience of discrimination, and Mark's response is to actively encourage people to show empathy and be their authentic selves.

Qualified in public health and public policy, Mark spends his spare time socialising, reading, collecting elephant paraphernalia, living at the beach in summer and doting on his beloved doggy, Esme.

SECRETARY

Amelia McLeod (she/her)

Say hello to Amelia. Originally hailing from the UK, Amelia has been in Australia for almost two decades.

Amelia joined Perth Spectres in November 2021 after meeting the Club at Fairday and finding the warm welcome and community feeling exactly what she was looking for after moving back to Perth.

Since then, she has fully immersed in the Perth Spectres culture. She regularly attends Train and Plays and other Spectres events. Amelia represented Perth Spectres at the World Pride 2023 basketball competition, competing in both the women’s and mixed divisions. She has also been involved with various subcommittees and is currently captaining Team Ultraviolet.

Amelia was motivated to join the committee as she wanted to give back to the club that has come to mean so much to her and to ensure that the club maintains its community and “found family” welcoming atmosphere.

When not on the basketball court, she works in healthcare and can often be found with a cup of tea and a book or online catching up with friends.

TREASURER

Adam Kinnest [AJ] (he/him)

Adam (AJ) has been a Perth spectres player since the clubs inception and an active supporter of the club. Adam’s working background includes stakeholder engagement, corporate and government affairs, and national membership experience in is role as National Associate Director of Membership with CEDA.

AJ also works with other community groups and programs including sitting on the advisory committee for the City of Cannings Access and Inclusion Committee with previous terms held at the City of Perth. AJ is passionate about making and difference and working towards improving community outcomes for people’s.

SPORTS LEADER

Erin Seymour (she/her)

Meet Erin, born and raised on the Basketball courts of country NSW. She has been an active member of the Perth Spectres Basketball Club since her arrival in Perth, in April 2023. As a visitor in Perth, Erin went to her first Train and Play to see if she could meet some new people and play some basketball. The friendly community and welcoming atmosphere could be held responsible for why she is yet to leave Perth.

Erin played representative Basketball in the Queensland Basketball League and the State Basketball League, while studying her Bachelor of Education. During her years as a HPE teacher in the Darling Downs QLD, she spent many hours managing and coaching High School basketball teams.

Erin plays regularly for one of the club's season teams and can be found coaching at Train and Plays. She is motivated by her love of learning and sharing with a core value of kindness. Erin joined the committee to contribute her knowledge and experience to the club, which has given her friendship and community. She hopes to support club members to develop their basketball skills and knowledge so that they may enjoy the game and feel confident on the court.

When not on the court or at work Erin can be found running around with her dog, on a yoga mat stretching, or eating all the foods.

COMMUNITY LEADER

David Barrett (he/him)

Meet David, originally from Ireland, he has been residing in Australia for over a decade now. An active member of the Perth Spectres Basketball Club since 2022, David initially joined the club without any prior basketball experience. He vividly remembers his first Train & Play session where he had to be taught how to dribble the ball! Since then, he has witnessed a significant improvement in his skills and confidence, and has even managed to shoot a couple of three-pointers in recent games!

David plays regularly on one of the season teams, and has participated in both interclub and interstate competitions, including the inaugural Pride Basketball Australia Tournament held in Sydney in 2023. However, what David values most about his membership in Perth Spectres is the strong bonds he has formed and the plethora of LGBTQIA+ friends he has made.

Motivated by a desire to give something back to the club which has given him so much, David has joined the 2024 committee, intent on actively contributing to the club’s growth and community engagement.

Outside of basketball, David works in healthcare. During his leisure time, he can be found basking in the sun at the beach or indulging in various nerdy activities.

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBER

Kwei Tsie [KT] (she/her)

KT has been playing with the Perth Spectres Basketball Club since September 2020. Her old teammate whom she played social competition with years ago, introduced her to Perth Spectres. She says joining the club was one of the best decisions she has ever made. She has the opportunity to play the sport that she absolutely loves and has forged friendships with wonderful people at the club.

When KT is not in front of her computer analysing numbers and reports, she can be seen running around a basketball court or at the dojo training in martial arts. Her martial arts training has given her the skills as a facilitator. She is a member of Perth Spectres Sport Sub-Committee and has helped facilitate the train and play sessions.

KT coordinated the first ever Perth Spectres Intra-club 3 x 3 basketball competition in 2023 and given the positive feedback from the participants, she is committed to continue with the initiative in 2024. She says there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the participants having fun, being more confident and skilled at the end of the competition.

KT nominated herself as a general committee member for the 2024 Perth Spectres Committee because she would like to give something back to the community and to continue the good work that the past committees have done for this wonderful club.

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBER

Karen Gilgallon (she/her)

Karen was one of the original Perth Spectres female members & players. Karen was also on the founding Perth Spectres Committee.

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBER

Emma Richards (she/her)

Meet Emma, an active member of Spectres since 2020, playing casually in the Women’s Basketball Games. She has travelled around Western Australia before finally settling in Perth in 2014. Wanting to be involved in the community whilst staying active she found Spectres Basketball an LGBTQI inclusive social game. They felt included and welcomed right away and grew in confidence in both the game and life in general.

Some of the aspects of the club Emma feels most passionate about is the inclusivity, that she felt heard and properly listened to when speaking in a group or 1-on-1. She wanted to give back to the Spectres Club what she was given in the first place. She wants to be there for new members who need the confidence boost. This is why she joined the committee in 2024.

Emma has not only been playing in the women’s games but also helping in the background to set up the various social events including the Basket BALL. After assisting with the Basket BALL event Emma wanted to help more.

Outside of basketball Emma works in healthcare. During leisure time she gets out in the sun walking/swimming, or taking time to read one of her many books.