Local basketball legend wins Community Citizen of the Year award
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Published on 29 January 2021
Midland-based businessman and youth mentor Adam Desmond was one of six worthy recipients of the Australia Day Community of the Year Awards from the City of Swan for his commitment to empowering lives through basketball.
Adam’s story takes us back to 2011, when he guided a group of Indigenous boys in the City of Swan who were passionate about basketball.
He decided to coach them and personally cover their fees so the group could play in local competitions.
“I coached a small group of boys through their first season at Kalamunda & District Basketball Association,” he said.
“Two years later, the number of participating kids had grown, Binar Sports was founded, and the rest is history.”
Today, Binar Sports is made up of more than 50 teams comprised of 500 young people.
In 2020, they participated in nine competitions across the year, with more than 30 championship wins, including State League Championships.
Behind the name
Binar is the Noongar word for meteor. The Dreamtime story explains that when harsh times came to Earth, the Spirit Mother lifted her children up in her arms where they would be safe as stars. When her children on Earth are in need of help, the Spirit Mother sends her star children home in the form of meteors.
The young people of Binar Sport represent their origins on their jerseys. The artwork shown on the jerseys was painted by First Nations artist Nerolie Bynder.
Adam says that Binar Sports aims to provide life opportunities and pathways for Aboriginal youth through basketball and a support network for families.
“Binar Sports helps kids to pursue their passion for basketball, while forming relationships with each other and our families,” he said.
“We now have our own community within the community.”
He explains that the Binar Sports community values and represents pride in identity and confidence in self.
“We are family; we support our own community and pick up the pieces,” he said.
More than a mentor
Not only is Adam a well-respected mentor, he also supported the community through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Binar Sports delivered supplies, wholesome meals and checked-in on families that were doing it tough,” he said.
“Many families were worried and anxious; this was just one thing that they didn’t have to worry about.”
This year, Adam will commence a new role at Indigenous Basketball Australia as the WA Coordinator for their national program. Adam will accompany a group of under 14 boys and girls from Binar Sports to the Gold Coast in April for an eight-week tournament as part of the program.
Congratulations Adam on your well-deserved award, and we wish Binar Sports all the best in 2021.
Congratulations to the all Community Citizen of the Year Award winners
Michel Teraci, Community Citizen of the Year Ronald ‘Tex’ McPherson, Senior Community of the Year Elyssa Mullaley, Young Community of the Year Sikh Gurdwara, Active Citizenships Award Jon Buckmaster, Young Community Citizen of the Year