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We hope you enjoy episode #21 of our Australian Basketball History series - an in-depth interview with Gail ‘Hendo’ Henderson … QLD Hall of Famer, former Australian Opal and current Butterfly. 

We sat down with Hendo at the 2024 Pan Pacific Masters Games, on Australia’s Gold Coast.  

We talk through Hendo’s early inspiration for the game.  Hendo reflects on her QLD representation in junior and senior representative teams. In 1978, the excellence of her play resulted in her being identified as a member of the newly created QLD’s Basketball’s All-Star First Five. Hendo represented QLD at four senior women’s Australian Championships: 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983 (in Adelaide where QLD won the silver medal, runners-up to Victoria). In late December 1979 and January 1979, Hendo was a member of the first overseas playing tour undertaken by a senior women’s QLD representative team, travelling to Canada and Hawaii. During the tour, Hendo was the team’s top rebounder and the team’s top scorer, scoring 116 points at an average of 11.6.per game. Hendo also represented QLD teams at the Australian Women’s Club Championships, which showcased the best women’s basketball clubs in the country.

We turn the page.  Hendo takes us back to when she earned her place as a member of the Opals squad (from 1982 until 1985), where her 18-game career included winning the bronze medal in the R. William Jones Cup in 1982 in Taiwan, playing against China in their 1982 tour of Australia and winning the gold medal after an undefeated tournament in the 1983 Commonwealth Championships.

During her domestic career, Hendo played the greatest number of games played by a Queenslander in the WNBL.  In 1982, Hendo was a foundation member of the Brisbane Lady Bullets in the WNBL (which had been inaugurated the previous year). Hendo played for Brisbane (renamed the Brisbane Blazers in 1991) in the WNBL for 11 years until 1992, playing 195 games for the Lady Bullets / Blazers, more than any other player in the team’s history. From 1993 until 1998, Hendo played for Sydney in the WNBL helping Sydney to win the title in 1993 and 1997. During her 17 years in the league, Hendo played 293 WNBL games. At the time of her retirement from playing, this was one of the highest numbers of games played by an individual QLD player in the WNBL.

Still playing today, Hendo is a passionate member of the Butterflies (the most iconic team in womens’ masters basketball) and a proud mum of two amazing basket-balling daughters, Alex and Bree.  

Remember to like, comment and subscribe … and feel free to reach out if you have any recommendations for interviews with people who have contributed to Australian basketball history.