Leigh-Anne Perillo
If there is one person who embodies the spirit of the St Martin Panthers, it is Leigh-Anne Perillo.
Leigh-Anne became involved with the club in 2001 when her eldest son began playing basketball in Grade 1. Having played basketball herself, she wanted her children to experience the same enjoyment and quickly became one of the club’s most dedicated volunteers.
When many committee members stepped away as their children finished playing, Leigh-Anne stepped up. Over the next decade she filled numerous roles, including General Committee Member, Secretary, Treasurer, Registration Officer, Uniform Co-ordinator and President. As a stay-at-home mum at the time, she willingly took on whatever the club needed – from collecting registration fees and managing uniforms to banking cash and keeping the club operating (all at the same time).
Her contribution extended far beyond administration. Leigh-Anne coached all four of her sons throughout their junior basketball journey, coaching Panthers teams from 2002 to 2014, including coaching all four boys’ teams simultaneously between 2010 and 2012.
Perhaps Leigh-Anne’s greatest legacy is the culture she helped create. She established coaching clinics, encouraged players to challenge themselves by playing representative basketball, and championed a friendship-first philosophy.
As Leigh-Anne reflects: “It was never about winning. Although winning is great, it was about playing with your friends.”
That philosophy continues to define the St Martin Panthers today. Her own four sons remain lifelong friends with their Panthers teammates, a testament to the community she helped build.
Leigh-Anne’s selfless service, leadership and unwavering commitment over more than a decade have left a lasting legacy that continues to shape the club and the experience of every young Panther who wears the uniform today.
