Basketball ACT’s loss is her backyard’s gain as Barb Turner departs basketball administration after twenty incredible years 
 

Community sport is always built around its stalwarts, and Barb Turner is the very definition of a stalwart within the ACT basketball community. 

Barb finishes with BACT on August 1, after recently announcing her decision to retire from her role as Performance Programs Administrator. She says basketball has “been such a significant part of my life, and I truly appreciate the sport, the community, and all the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work with and meet along the way.” 

“After more than 20 years at the courts, it’s time for a change of pace and the beginning of a new chapter.” 

But while letting Barb Turner ride off into the sports administration sunset might be her preference, careers of such longevity deserve much more than a quiet side exit. 

“My love of basketball started when my kids started playing. My son was probably nine. My daughter’s played since, I don’t know, she was five,” Barb says. 

“They got me into it and that’s where it’s just stuck. 

“But I never played basketball myself. I always thought it was a dumb sport,” she laughs. 

“Now look at me, after 20 years, I’m still here.” 

Abbie Kettles, Barb Turner and Carlie McAlister at NBL1 East Game. Pictures by Rex Bergas, Basketball ACT

Barb’s career with Basketball ACT began in 2005 under Gary Evans, after hearing there might have been some casual work going in Tuggeranong. 

“I actually worked seven days a week back in those days. I used to work Monday to Friday nights and then all day Saturday, and all day Sunday. I just kept going.” 

There’s an argument that Barb ‘just kept going’ to the very end. She’s still been overseeing competitions in Tuggeranong on Wednesday and Thursday nights. 

Over her two decades, there a few roles in BACT she hasn’t filled along the way, with her current role providing vitally important planning and logistics management for High Performance programs including the Canberra Gunners and Nationals, along with age-group representative teams. 

“Probably the only jobs I haven’t done is the COO and the CEO. At this stage of the game, I think I’ve done a bit of everyone’s job,” Barb says. 

But over two decades, Barb Turner has also seen so much. All the highs and lows, all the roller-coaster rides along the way, and certainly the explosion in participation in recent years. By the time she finishes, she’ll have forgotten more about basketball than so many people will ever know. 

Barb Turner and Family at NBL1 East Game. Pictures by Rex Bergas, Basketball ACT

“Back in the day, we had a lot more to do with the Capitals,” Barb remembers fondly. “Graffy (former championship-winning coach, now UC Director of Sport Carrie Graf) used to work out of this office.” 

“Having a little bit to do with the Caps and seeing them win Championships was great. 

“And then the Gunners through the SEABL, then the Waratah League and now in NBL1. I’ve known Pete Herek for, I don’t know how long, probably too long. 

“Maybe seeing the boys in their first year of NBL1 was a great thing (2022). They won it. I’d actually written them off in the Final. 

“They were down by 20 and I actually texted my daughter and said, ‘They’re done’. And then all of a sudden, five minutes later, I went back and said ‘Hold that thought. No, they’re not.’ 

“They came back and won, beat Maitland. It was unbelievable.” 

And there’s the names she starts rattling off. Players that Barb first saw as kids, managed and looked after so many of them in representative and pathways programs, and who have now gone way beyond playing basketball in Canberra. 

“I managed Izzy Bourne when she was in under, what were we? Under 16s. We went to Tassie. Actually, was in a boot myself,” Barb laughs again. 

“So yeah, Izzy Bourne. Now she’s just won an Asia Cup in China with the Opals. 

“Mariana Tolo is such a lovely person, and Jade (Melbourne) is always bouncing around the place when she’s here. 

Barb Turner and Abbie Kettles at NBL1 East Game. Pictures by Rex Bergas, Basketball ACT

“Glenn (Morison), Will (Mayfield), James (Toohey). I’ve known them for a long time. Managed them in teams as well.” 

As for the next chapter, Barbs says that a flood-forced renovation a few years ago and an absolute hate of painting means there’s no need for an interior redesign at home just yet. 

“There’s little bits and pieces I can do. I’ve redone my back garden, but I still haven’t planted any plants.  

“So that’s something that I’m probably looking forward to doing in summer. Definitely not winter.  

“And to be honest, I’d rather mow the lawn than do housework.” 

But some travel definitely is on the cards, starting with an overseas trip with her sister in just a few weeks’ time. After that, it will be wherever the wind takes her. 

“I’ve got lots of friends everywhere now so that I can just pop over and see. And I promised Tanya (Sharp, BACT’s Competitions Manager), I’ll come over and see her in South Australia. So I’ll take a big day, take a long drive to Whyalla to go and see her.  

“And then I’ve got relatives up in North Queensland, up around Harvey Bay. So, I might just go up and see them and stay with them. 

“It’s time for me to just be me. 

“But I won’t be lost to basketball. I’ll still come to all the games and what have you. So yeah, the Gunners and Nationals are all still like my babies. They’ll always be.  

“Any kids that I’ve managed end up being virtually part of my family. And I will say, my family have sacrificed a lot with me. 

“Now, I’m just looking forward to spending all my time with them.” 

Written by Brett McKay, BACT Communications & Engagement Manager 

July 2025