3 September 2026

WESTERN PORT APPOINTS CLARE CAMAC AS CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN’S HEAD COACH!

Western Port Basketball Association is thrilled to announce the appointment of Clare Camac as Head Coach of our Championship Women’s team for the 2027 Big V season.

Clare brings an extraordinary depth of playing, coaching, and leadership experience to Western Port. She has more than 25 years of coaching experience and has played over 400 games across the WNBL, SEABL and NBL1.

Her remarkable playing career includes eight NBL1/SEABL championships and a WNBL Championship with the Dandenong Rangers, making her a nine-time championship-winning player.

Clare’s coaching résumé includes NBL1 Lead Assistant Coach roles, Big V Youth League Championship Women Head Coach, multiple Victorian Championship finals and National Junior Classic campaigns, as well as senior coaching, development and leadership positions within the Dandenong Rangers program.
Her appointment represents an exciting chapter for women’s basketball at Western Port, with a major focus on strengthening the connection between our junior and senior programs and creating clear pathways for young female players and coaches.

Clare said she was excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of the program:

“I’m really excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Head Coach of the women’s program at Western Port.”
“A big focus for me will be connecting the junior and senior programs and creating clear pathways for young girls to work towards playing at the highest level the club can offer.”

“I want to build a strong culture where players and coaches are supported, challenged and accountable, while enjoying being part of the program.”
“I believe there’s a real opportunity to build something special at Western Port and create a program that develops not just players, but coaches and people as well.”

“The decision to join Western Port was an easy one. The passion and commitment from the club’s front office really stood out to me, and it was clear we have a similar vision for where we want to take the program.”

Western Port Basketball Association General Manager, Nathan Sewell, said Clare’s appointment was a significant moment for the club:

“This is an incredibly exciting appointment for Western Port and one that reflects the ambition we have for our entire women’s program.”

“Clare’s basketball résumé speaks for itself, but it was her vision, leadership, and passion for developing players, coaches and people that made her such an outstanding fit for our Association.”

“We want to build a women’s program that our youngest girls can look up to and genuinely aspire to be part of. Clare shares that vision, and we believe she will have an enormous impact across our Championship Women’s team, our pathways and the wider Steelers community.”

We could not be more excited to welcome Clare and her family to Western Port.

Welcome to the Steelers, Clare!

📷 Clare Camac is welcomed to WPBA by President Adrian Giblin (left) and General Manager Nathan Sewell (right).

#OneWPBA #GoSteelers #WPBAnews

2 September 2026

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – 2027 YOUTH LEAGUE MEN HEAD COACH

Western Port Basketball Association is inviting expressions of interest for the position of Youth League Men Head Coach for the 2027 BigV season.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed coach who can provide strong leadership, build a positive team culture and support the continued development of our emerging players.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively within the Western Port senior representative program and play an important role in preparing the team for the 2027 season.

Applicants should demonstrate:

*Experience coaching within a representative or senior basketball environment

*Strong leadership, communication and player-development skills

*A commitment to high standards, accountability and positive team culture

*A willingness to contribute to the broader Western Port Steelers program

To express your interest, please send a cover letter and coaching résumé to:

gm@wpba.com.au

All expressions of interest will be treated confidentially. Western Port Basketball Association reserves the right to interview suitable candidates as Expressions of Interest are received.

#OneWPBA #GoSteelers

ASSOCIATION APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

31 August 2026

GIBSON JOINS WPBA TEAM!

Western Port Basketball Association (WPBA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Elli Gibson as our new Finance and Operations Coordinator.

Elli brings extensive professional experience, with a strong background in financial management, reporting and administration.

She has also previously worked in a basketball administration setting in a leadership position, providing her with an excellent understanding of the financial and operational requirements of a basketball association.

Her financial expertise, leadership qualities and knowledge of the Victorian basketball landscape will make her a valuable addition to Western Port.

Elli also brings an outstanding basketball background to the Association. She played more than 200 SEABL games, captained the Victorian state team as a player and is the reigning Big V Championship Women Coach of the Year, having led Pakenham’s Championship Women’s team to back-to-back finals appearances.

Western Port Basketball General Manager Nathan Sewell said: “Elli will be a terrific addition to the organisation, brings an outstanding combination of financial and operational experience, strong leadership qualities and a genuine understanding of the basketball environment.”

“Her professionalism, personality and approach make her a terrific fit for our team and the Western Port community. I’m excited to welcome Elli to Western Port and look forward to the positive contribution she will make to the Association.”

Please join us in welcoming Elli to the WPBA and Steelers family

WPBAnews #GoSteelers #OneWPBA

PRICING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR NEW VJBL UNIFORMS!

28 August 2026

We are excited to confirm the pricing and rollout of our new black VJBL uniforms; an important step towards unifying our junior and senior representative programs under one strong Steelers identity.

Thanks to the outstanding support of our major program sponsor, Frankston Ford | Mornington Ford | Westernport Ford, part of the Peninsula Dealer Group, together with a further contribution from the Association, families will be able to purchase the complete new uniform package for the heavily subsidised price of just $65.00!

The package includes:

• New reversible playing singlet
• New playing shorts
• New warm-up top

The standard price of this package, after the special-order window, will be $165.00 – meaning families are receiving a remarkable $100.00 in savings.

This would not have been possible without the generosity and commitment of Frankston, Mornington, Western Port Ford. Their support has allowed us to make the transition significantly more affordable for our families while ensuring our players can proudly represent Western Port in a fresh, professional and unified look. We are incredibly grateful to them for continuing to invest so strongly in our players, families, and broader Steelers community.

We would also like to acknowledge our new uniform and merchandise supplier Impact Sports Promotions, whose partnership and support have played an important role in helping us deliver this outstanding offer to Steelers families. We are also excited to be working with them on a brand-new range of WPBA merchandise, which will be available to our players, families and supporters soon.

Moving our junior representative teams into black brings them into line with our senior Steelers teams and supports our vision of one club, one identity- from our youngest VJBL players through to our Big V programs.

Four uniform fitting nights will be held immediately following try-outs, with dates and ordering information to be communicated shortly.

Players will continue to wear their existing grey uniforms for practice games and Grading Phase One. We will work directly with new players to ensure they have access to a grey uniform during this period.

All teams will then take the court in their new black uniforms from Grading Phase Two, and we cannot wait to see our junior and senior Steelers proudly representing Western Port together in black.

#OneWPBA #GoSteelers #GetYourSteelerOn

NEW TUESDAY NIGHT WOMEN’S DOMESTIC COMPETITION

17 August 2026

Western Port Basketball Association (WPBA) is pleased to introduce a NEW Tuesday Night Women’s Domestic competition, in addition to the current Thursday mornings. If your current team is interested, or you would look to register an new club or independent team, we wish to hear from you! The Season would start on Tuesday 6 October 2026 – games would be between 7:00pm and 8:30pm.

12 August 2026

RACHAEL WANSBROUGH TO HIT 400 BIG V GAMES!

On Saturday 15 August, at the Championship Women’s Elimination Final, Rachael Wansbrough will suit up for game 400 with the Western Port Steelers, marking a remarkable milestone in a career spanning 20 years.

Very few players in the history of the league have amassed such an extraordinary list of achievements. Rachael’s career includes three championships, an international appearance against Japan, and a cabinet full of trophies and personal awards. She has long been known for her dominance on the boards and her scoring power—highlighted by an unforgettable 35–37 (points/rebounds) performance during her time with Mornington. Her consistency and impact across two decades have cemented her as one of the Big V’s most formidable competitors.

Rachael was first recruited into the Mornington Big V program by Warren Heigh during her junior years with the Frankston Blues. In 2012, she joined Justin Nelson at Warrandyte, where she and her team secured their first Women’s Championship in 2013. In 2015, Rachael followed Nelson to the Camberwell Dragons. Her move closer to home in 2017 saw her join Chelsea, where she claimed her second Championship with the Gulls.

Across her senior basketball journey, Rachael has been fortunate to play under several respected and experienced coaches. Warren Heigh (8 years), Justin Nelson (5 years), and Adrian Giblin (4 years/present) who have each shared tributes.

Warren Heigh, Western Port Basketball Vice President, and former coach: “Congratulations to Rachael on reaching the 400 Big V games milestone. I had the pleasure of recruiting and coaching Rachael as a young 16‑year‑old in her introduction to Big V at Mornington, where for a number of years she dominated all the statistical categories each season. Rachael moved up to Division One and then Championship with Justin Nelson, who polished her into the player she is today. It was my privilege to have been part of her journey and to be a friend over all these years. A great career and huge milestone, but I know we will see many more games in the years to come.”

Justin Nelson, Chief WNBL Operations Officer, and former coach: “I am so proud of Rachael reaching this amazing milestone. It is an accomplishment that the entire League should be celebrating. The dedication, resilience, adaptability, and sheer persistence it takes to reach 400 games cannot be understated, but most of all, the love Rachael has for the game is at another level. I remain proud of the part I played in her career, but just as importantly, I know so many other coaches and teammates will feel just as proud of their involvement and time spent with Rachael. She is such a warrior and a true legend of the League. If Big V ever starts a Hall of Fame, which is long overdue, I would certainly hope Rachael Wansbrough is one of the first players inducted.”

Adrian Giblin, Western Port Basketball Association President, and current coach: “Congratulations Rachael on your amazing achievement of 400 Big V games. It’s been incredible to watch how you give your absolute best every time you step out on the court. I was lucky enough to coach Rachael for a small part of her wonderful career and would describe her as a warrior who gave everything game in and game out. Rachael left nothing on the floor and often played through pain and discomfort but never complained—she simply got on with giving her best for her team. Congratulations Rachael on 400 games of excellence!”

The Western Port Basketball Association joins all who know Rachael—and all who have watched her compete—in congratulating her on 400 Big V games. A monumental milestone and richly deserved.

Western Port Basketball Association

WESTERN PORT BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

WPBA APPOINTS VOS AS NEW DOC!

8 April 2026

WESTERN PORT BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

WPBA – ONE ASSOCIATION IDENTITY

19 March 2026