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Thomas AterPrint Page Print this page

15-March-2016
15-March-2016

Photographs supplied by Sandra Brown

The basketball court commemorates Thomas Ater, a Sudanese immigrant and youth worker. 

Thomas Ater, a Sudanese immigrant who lived in Merrylands, died from Malaria while on a trip to Southern Sudan, to celebrate the new country's independence. He was an African youth worker who ran sports, life skills and after-school sessions for young people and also helped families through case work.

The Sudanese teenagers, new to the country and the centre, were told by Thomas to train hard and behave well. They would meet regularly with him to shoot hoops and they learnt lessons both on and off the courts. The plaque was unveiled after a petition by the young people he helped. 
 

 

Location

Address:Memorial Drive, Granville Youth & Community Recreation Centre, Granville, 2142
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.835278
Long: 151.013778
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Structure
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Tragedy

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 30th November, 2011
Front Inscription

Plaque :

The Thomas Ater Basketball Court

This plaque was unveiled by
the Right Worshipful, the Lord Mayor of Parramatta
Councillor Lorraine Wearne

30 November 2011

To officially name the basketball court after Thomas John Malou Ater

Dedicated to coach Thomas Ater (01 June 1971 - 15 August 2011) for his devotion and inspiration to young people in Western Sydney

Arthur Phillip Ward Councillors
Cr Julia Finn  Cr Chiang Lim  Cr Prabir Maitra

Caroline Chisholm Ward Councillors
Cr Paul Barber  Cr Andrew Bide  Cr Scott Lloyd

Elizabeth Macarthur Ward Councillors
Cr John Chedid  Cr Mark Lack  Cr Michael McDermott

Woodville Ward Councillors
Cr Glenn Elmore  Cr Paul Garrard  Cr Antoine (Tony) Issa OAM

 Lachlan Macquarie Ward Councillors
Cr Pierre Esber  
Cr Lorraine Wearne  Lord Mayor  
Cr Andrew Wilson Mayor Deputy Lord

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au