Basketball loses one of its greatest enthusiasts

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34119, 3 April 1976, Page 4

Basketball loses one of its greatest enthusiasts

(Byl

ROD DEW)

The death last Saturday of Mr Wally Glew deprived New Zealand basketball of a man who was not only an exceptional administrator in the sport but also one of its greatest enthusiasts. Formerly of Rotorua, he was the New Zealand Basketball Federation’s first full-time executive director of administration, a position he gained in mid-i 974. When the national administration moved its base from Wellington to Christchurch, Mr Glew came, too. Some two months ago, Mr Glew resigned from the position because of a serious illness and was admitted to Waikato hospital where he remained until his death. In Christchurch, he was a wellknown and popular figure, who could never resist the opportunity to talk about the sport he loved with a fellow enthusiast. There was very little he did not know about current affairs in the world of basketball. On the national level, Mr Glew was convinced that the sport had grown to the point where professional

organisation and promotion was required. It was because of this that he took

on the job of executive director. His task was almost to determine his own sphere of influence and set down guidelines for those who tl might follow him. He was active in schools and one of his most valuable projects was manufacturing low-cost backboards and hoops for sale to Anybody

who might be interested. A new batch of 100 of these is now being prepared by High School Old Boys, although it might be some time before they are ready to market. He also led an investigation into the feasibility of a national league. The figures he arrived at regarding cost shocked some and his suggestion that the scheme be shelved or severely modified is certain to be followed. Shortly before his death, he cheerfully admitted that he was having some difficulty “disentangling myself from the monster I have created.” Mr Glew’s background In basketball administration was impressive. He was secretary of the Bay of Plenty Basketball Council since its inception in 1962 until his appointment to the national administration. It is due in no small measure to his efforts that the Bay of Plenty centre is now the largest in New Zealand, with more than 222 senior teams. It was in 1957 that he first became involved in coaching, restricting his activities largely to school-

children. In 1974 he took Rotorua boys’ and girls’ teams on a visit to Australia. Trips of this nature were a wonderful incentive for young players, he said. Oddly enough, Mr Glew did not get his introduction to basketball until the relatively advanced age of 30. He played seriously for 10 years, although he was “far too old” to reach any great heights. However, it sparked off an enthusiasm which was to make him one of the leading figures in the sport. At the time of his death, Mr Glew was 53.