Melva Claire Saunders (née Hancock, 9 May 1931 – 29 May 2021[1]) was an Australian women's basketball player.[2]
| No. 10 – Opals | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | 9 May 1931 Mayfield, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Died | 29 May 2021 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Biography
editHancock played for the Australia women's national basketball team at the 1957 FIBA World Championship for Women, hosted by Brazil.[3] Hancock commenced playing basketball as a junior in 1949 and represented New South Wales (NSW) at the Australian Championships in 1955, 1956, 1960 and 1962.[4] She was a key member of the Newcastle team that won eight straight NSW Country and NSW State championships.[5]
For her participation as a player, manager and administrator of the game from 1949 to 1978, Hancock was inducted into the Basketball NSW Hall of Fame in 2013.[5] Her married name is Melva Hancock.
References
edit- ^ Symington, Elizabeth (31 May 2021). "Pioneering Melva fondly remembered". Newcastle Weekly. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ Brasil, Cartões de Imigração familysearch.org
- ^ FIBA Archive. 1957 World Championship for Women. Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ Basketball NSW. Melva Hancock (nee Saunders). Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ a b Keeble, Brett (July 4, 2013). Basketball stalwarts honoured. Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 2017-11-15.