A legend of basketball in Canberra, Kate Tominac was the latest to be named as a Life Member of Basketball ACT, at the 2026 Community Awards night. 

Kate’s basketball journey began at age 11, in a trial for an ACT under-12 team. After starting with Ginninderra, she joined Wests Basketball Club in 1984 and quickly emerged as an outstanding home-grown talent. 

She played age representative basketball all the way through – including winning the 1987 U14s National Championships, played senior basketball at a young age, and went on play 240 games for the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL, coached (and is still coaching) junior and senior teams at Wests, coached and managed ACT rep teams, and had the ACT Secondary Schools Championship named in her honour since its inception in 1999.

Her decades of playing, coaching, mentoring, volunteering, and shaping basketball in the ACT reflect an enduring commitment to the game.

Also presented on the evening were the Outstanding Service Awards. The Basketball ACT Outstanding Service Award is conferred to individuals that provide services to BACT, or it’s Full Members, for a sustained and continued period.

The two recipients of the award in 2026 were Kirsty Buttner and Robert ‘Bob’ Rosewarne.

Kirsty Buttner is a highly respected and dedicated member of the Basketball ACT community, consistently supporting players, coaches and referees through her extensive game-day involvement, supervision, and calm, reliable advice. 

She mentors junior players and officials with fairness and respect, helping uphold the rules and integrity of the game. As a leader at Wests Basketball Club, Kirsty actively recruits new players and has personally helped children from families unable to afford membership, enabling them to thrive in a supportive team environment. 

Her values, personal sacrifice and commitment to improving the club are widely recognised, and her exceptional service to Wests and basketball more broadly reflects a rare level of integrity, leadership and generosity that deserves this recognition.

Bob Rosewarne has dedicated more than 50 years to basketball refereeing, beginning as a teenager at Lyneham High School and later officiating across Canberra and in Goulburn, often travelling directly to games after full-time work. 

Recognised with a Basketball ACT award in 2018 for more than 40 years of service, Bob has refereed school, club and representative competitions, earned Level 3 Scoretable certification, and been recognised as the most capped referee and a finalist for that honour over many years. He also managed referee rosters with exceptional commitment, and has coached and mentored numerous developing officials. 

Known for his remarkable memory, deep knowledge of basketball, calm judgement, fairness and respect, Bob has helped resolve disputes, build strong relationships and provide a steady, trusted presence across the ACT basketball community.

2026 BACT COMMUNITY AWARDS WINNERS

OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Kirsty Buttner
Robert ‘Bob’ Rosewarne

LIFE MEMBER
Kate Tominac

OFFICIALS AWARDS
ACT Referee of the Year – Jack Taylor
Premier League Referee of the Year – Ryan Blundell
Willyama Services Junior Female Referee of the Year – Georgia Kerr
Willyama Services Junior Male Referee of the Year – James Morton
Rising Star Award – Sophie Gerbich
Scoretable of the Year – Melanie Forey
Statistician of the Year – Allison Rankin
Allan Roberts Merit Award – Marlene Leonard

PREMIER LEAGUE 2 AWARDS
SPL2 Women’s Coach of the Year – Jackson Smith (Ginninderra Rats)
SPL2 Women’s Defensive Player of the Year – Grace Buckmaster (Warriors)
SPL2 Women’s Leading Scorer – Mieka Edmonds – 342 Points (Wests)
SPL2 Women’s Most Valuable Player – Mieka Edmonds (Wests)
SPL2 Men’s Coach of the Year – Adam King (Queanbeyan)
SPL2 Men’s Defensive Player of the Year – Mohamed Jalloh (Norths)
SPL2 Men’s Leading Scorer – Cooper Alexander – 364 Points (Dodgers)
SPL2 Men’s Most Valuable Player – Van Wirth (Stallions)

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 AWARDS
SPL1 Women’s Coach of the Year – Kate Tominac (Wests)
SPL1 Women’s Defensive Player of the Year – Francesca Clarke (Wests)
SPL1 Women’s Leading Scorer – Katiah-Ann Tait – 460 Points (Spartans)
SPL1 Women’s Most Valuable Player – Katiah-Ann Tait (Spartans)
SPL1 Men’s Coach of the Year – Jarryd Heywood (Wests)
SPL1 Men’s Defensive Player of the Year – Angus Byatt (Norths)
SPL1 Men’s Leading Scorer – Luca Madella – 501 Points (Warriors)
SPL1 Men’s Most Valuable Player – Luca Madella (Warriors)