Albany Basketball Association stalwart Darren Berry has been awarded the prestigious Mike Stidwell Medal for 2025, honouring years of dedication to supporting and growing basketball in the region.

Mr Berry served as president of the association for three years before stepping down at the end of 2025 and handing over to Tim Turnbull.

Before taking on the top job, he served as vice-president for three years and was on the committee for another six, dedicating more than 10 years to governing the local association.

The Mike Stidwell Medal acknowledges exceptional and long-running volunteer service in sport administration, honouring the memory of Great Southern sport stalwart Mike Stidwell, who also served as a former manager at the Department of Sport and Recreation.

This year marked the award’s 26th anniversary, a legacy of honouring Great Southern sporting volunteers since 2000.

“Mr Berry has been a transformative asset in Lower Great Southern basketball, strengthening governance, deepening partnerships and providing operational stability that has established the association as one of WA’s most respected regional sporting bodies,” the department’s comments on the winner read.

“Mr Berry’s legacy is defined by his deep dedication and unwavering commitment to strengthening community basketball, all while elevating the Albany region’s sporting profile and ensuring sustainable and community-focused growth.”

The award ceremony was held this year at the Albany Entertainment Centre on May 18 to mark the beginning of National Volunteer Week, and the medal was presented to Mr Berry on the night by Jill Stidwell and Siobhan Hepworth, and Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport Great Southern regional manager Mel Eastough.

Mr Berry said it was a proud and humbling moment to receive the award.

“It was a proud moment to receive it, it’s just rewarding for all the effort you put in over the years, but at the same time I’d like to try and recognise all the people who helped me achieve what we have done for the ABA,” he said.

“It’s not just a one person job, the volunteer numbers are so important to keep the association going and keep it all running, so there’s a whole team behind the scenes putting in the hard work alongside me.

“There’s no game without the local support.”

Other nominees for the 2026 award were Colin Davies, Graeme Bain, Jarrod Carroll, Jodie Wignall, Kelly Holzknecht, Rachel Hodgson, Rhett Eiffler, Tom Moir and Allen Poor.

Mr Berry was born and raised in Albany and both of his parents also played basketball, his family having a strong connection to the sport over many decades.

His two eldest children have left Albany for Perth, following sporting ambitions of their own, but he said seeing the younger generation carry on the enthusiasm for basketball in Albany was still rewarding.

“It’s good to see the sport grow in the town, and it’s good to give back to the community and the kids,” he said.

“I’ve been coaching everyone else’s kids a lot more than my own these days, but it’s rewarding to see the development and improvement of the competition as a whole as well.

“Going forward I’m wanting to take on a director of coaching role to keep the junior coaching pathways coming through, and help improve all levels of coaching from the locals that put their hands up to coach to the juniors who finish playing and want to start coaching.

“That’s what we need to do to keep the association growing and keep the talent pool growing in the region.”

A big achievement during his last stint as president was hosting the two NBL1 West matches at ALAC last July between the Perry Lakes Hawks and Perth Redbacks.

Thousands of fans packed the grandstands to watch both the men’s and women’s sides face off and cheer for a few homegrown heroes, and the marquee event is returning to Albany again this year on July 4.