By Lawrence Machodo
Kellyville’s Lauretta Claus’ remarkable service to international and national basketball as a statistician and to education has been recognised with an Order of Australia (AM).
She is among Australia’s foremost basketball statisticians, having spent decades in the sport. She played for Bankstown Bruins before taking on senior roles with Basketball Australia and the International Basketball Federation, working at the Olympics, World Cups and several international and Australian championships.
“I am extremely proud to receive the AM; it is the culmination of over 40 years working as a volunteer in my sport and 35 years as a proud public education teacher,” Lauretta told H2H Community News.
“Education has always been my priority but I’m fortunate that many of my skills as a teacher have complemented leading the stats community. My organisational skills, particularly those developed as a teacher, has allowed me to juggle all of my teaching and basketball commitments.
“I’m very lucky to have my family fully invested in the sport of basketball. My husband came over from the USA to play in the national league and that is how I met him. We lived for two years in the US but I was keen to return to Australia when my son was born.
“Both my children have been representative players and coaches, and my daughter is one of the best statisticians in Australia.
“Interestingly, they both said they would never be teachers like me because I was always working too hard. Now they are both teachers, Michael, a science teacher, and Emma, a PE teacher.”
Lauretta said the highlight of her stats career was working at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Paralympic Games. “What a fantastic sporting smorgasbord where we got to show off to the world how beautiful and magnificent our country is,” Lauretta said.
In addition to being the chairperson of the Statistics Committee for BA, NBL and WNBL, Lauretta holds several senior positions at Basketball NSW, which inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2019. A life member of the Hills Hornets and the Spalding Waratah League, Lauretta was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
Basketball NSW, in a congratulatory message, said: “Lauretta’s influence in basketball extends far beyond the court, shaping the way the sport is understood and celebrated on a global stage while also inspiring through her leadership in education.”
Lauretta started teaching in 1988, before her promotion as Deputy Principal AST Chifley College, Mt Druitt (2001-2006). She served as principal at Airds High School (2006-2009), Quakers Hill High School (2009-2018), and Arthur Phillip High School (2018-21).
Lauretta, currently Director, Educational Leadership, Canterbury Principals Network, has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the NSW Secondary Principals Council.
Asked how she unwinds due to her hectic schedule, Lauretta said: “My main form of relaxation is travelling internationally and reading – nothing better than reading Pride & Prejudice for the 20th time.”
