The Barossa Valley Amateur Basketball Association celebrates its 50th year in 2018-19 and as part of that has introduced several encouragement awards for up and coming referees. One of those awards "The Junior Referee Encouragement Award - Girls" has been named after an NABC identity. Amy Durant (nee Rohrlach) has had this honour bestowed upon her and we congratulate her on this wonderful achievement.

Here is the news as released by the BVABA -

"Summer Season 2018-19 will see the Barossa Valley Amateur Basketball Association celebrate its 50th anniversary, and already the BVABA is gearing up for a whole year of celebrations, on and off the court!

Leading the way is the BVABA Committee's decision to re-introduce the "Most Improved Referee's Trophy", after 20+ years, which will be joined by 2 new Junior Referee Encouragement Awards, one for boys and one for girls!

In the past few weeks the BVABA have contacted Bob, Amy & Tyler to confirm that they are happy for their names to be associated with the awards. All have graciously consented to their names being used, with them also stating how honoured and humbled they are to receive this great honour, which also made the decision to do this all the more special, and the BVABA thank all 3 for allowing this to happen. 

Amy Rohrlach: Born and raised in Tanunda, started refereeing basketball in the BVABA at age 13 and worked her way up the ranks to state and national success, which included three consecutive Most Improved Referee awards at State Championships in the 1990's and represented SA Country at four Australian Country Cups, receiving the SA Referee scholarship in 1999. She received an AIS Camp scholarship in Canberra in 2000 and refereed at the 2001 Youth Olympics in Sydney.

Amy also attended five National Junior Championships, culminating with the Women's Gold Medal game at the Under 18 Nationals in Newcastle in 2003. In the South Australian State League, she won the Phil Yuill Memorial Trophy for Referee of the Year in the women's competition in her rookie year in 2000 and again in 2004. She went on to referee in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), and in 2004 was named the National Female Referee of the Year.

Now retired from refereeing and going by the name Amy Durant, she credits her career to the fantastic support of Barossa stalwart Bob Rochford and the opportunities provided by SA Country Basketball."

Again, on behalf of the entire Rockets Community, congratulations Amy, a fantastic achievement.