History

The Avondale Raiders Basketball Club has proudly served the local community for nearly 40 years. Founded by Peter Jukes, the club began as a single team—“Raiders”—created so his son and his friends could play in a local basketball competition. As basketball's popularity grew across Australia, so did the Raiders. What started as a grassroots initiative quickly expanded into a multi-team club, with Peter at the heart of it all—acting as President, Treasurer, Coach, and more.

From day one, the Raiders were built on the values of inclusion, community, and passion for the game. Peter was committed to ensuring no child missed out due to financial hardship. He regularly covered game fees and uniform costs out of his own pocket, keeping player costs low and opportunities high.

In 2016, after more than 25 years of community involvement, the club formally added “Avondale” to its name and logo—reflecting its deep connection to the area and the families it served.

In 2022, after 35 years of tireless dedication, Peter retired from both work and basketball, relocating to a warmer part of the state. To continue his legacy, an interim committee was formed in collaboration with Peter and former Raiders coach and Keilor Basketball Association President Rob Dierickx. This dedicated group—Paul Arney, Narelle Robinson, Charli-Rose Coote, Cindy Vella, Aidan Brophy, Lachlan Arney, Carolyn Arney, Lisa Vella, and Charee Vella—worked to formalise the club’s structure, incorporating it officially and seeking local sponsorship to support its mission of keeping basketball affordable and accessible.

Over the years, many Avondale Raiders athletes have gone on to represent Keilor Thunder and other clubs in the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL), as well as State teams through Basketball Victoria and School Sport Victoria. Beyond junior competitions, Raiders players have progressed into senior domestic leagues and representative levels including Youth League, Big V, and even NBL1.

The Avondale Raiders remain committed to fostering a love of basketball, developing talent, and building a strong, inclusive community through sport.