Nita Margaret Burke (née French - born 27 April 1937) is a retired Australian women's basketball player.[1]

Nita Burke
No. 9 – Opals
LeagueTasmania Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1937-04-27) 27 April 1937 (age 87)
Ulverstone, Tasmania
NationalityAustralian
Career highlights and awards
  • Tasmanian Sports Hall of Fame (1991)

Biography edit

Burke was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania. After starting out playing netball, she switched to basketball, playing for Tasmania at the 1956 National Championships.[2] Burke was selected for the Australia women's national basketball team, representing her country six times in international competition.[3] She was captain of the national team during their 1963 Asian tour, when they won 14 of the 15 games played.[2] At official FIBA events, Burke played at the 1957 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[4]

Burke moved to coaching and administration after retiring as a player in 1966. She was inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame in 1991.[2] Burke is one of only three basketballers inducted into the Hall of Fame.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Brasil, Cartões de Imigração familysearch.org
  2. ^ a b c Department of Premier and Cabinet.Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame. Nita Burke (nee French). Retrieved 2017-08-06.
  3. ^ Hope, Chloe (March 3, 2010). Who is our greatest female athlete ever? The Advocate. Retrieved 2017-08-06.
  4. ^ FIBA Archive. 1957 World Championship for Women. Australia. Retrieved 2017-08-06.
  5. ^ Basketball Australia. Basketball Tasmania Induct Hollie Grima into Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2017-08-06.