1960 ROME OLYMPIC GAMES
Henry Perazzo
Henry Perazzo is one of the most outstanding officials to have ever represented
Australia in international competition.
He officiated at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, the 1960 Olympic Games
in Rome and gained the respect of officials and administrators across the globe.
Officiating in an era where there was little structure for the education of
referees, he taught by example and successfully mentored and developed many
young referees to great heights.
After retiring from on court duties, he became a referee adviser in Victoria
through to the late 1970s and is a life member of the Victorian Basketball
Henry Perazzo - Official Henry Perazzo is one of the most outstanding officials to have ever represented Australia in international competition. He officiated at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne and the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and gained the respect of officials and administrators across the globe. Officiating in an era where there was little structure for the education of referees, he taught by example and successfully mentored and developed many young referees to great heights. After retiring from on court duties, he became a referee adviser in Victoria through to the late 1970s and is a life member of the Victorian Basketball Referees Association
HENRY Perazzo was an internationally acclaimed basketball referee whose active participation in the sport spanned 46 years.
He entered the Australian basketball hall of fame last year and the Melbourne Tigers honoured him with a place in their wall of fame for outstanding achievements as an international referee.
He was the first Australian referee at an Olympic Games and world championship.
He officiated almost continuously at Australian men's open basketball championships from 1952-65 and at four women's national championships in the mid-1950s.
An international basketball referee from 1953-68, he controlled games at the Olympics in Melbourne (1956) and Rome (1960).
He refereed the gold medal game at the 1962 world championships in Manila where he was named No. 1 official.
Raised in Port Melbourne, Henry George Perazzo left school to be apprenticed to a cabinet maker.
His World War II service, until early 1946, included terms with the Citizen Military Forces and Australian Imperial Forces, and he was a foundation member of the 20th Australian Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers.
After the war Henry returned to his trade before joining the Port Melbourne City Council's outdoor staff. In the years before he retired at 65 he was a meter reader.
In 1967 he married Edie Harris whose brother worked for the council and sat on the Victorian basketball referees' tribunal.
From an early age their only child, Dianne, accompanied Henry in his role as a basketball referee.
After he finished refereeing Henry and Dianne were regulars together at Melbourne Tigers home games.
Henry was diplomatic enough not to interfere with the referees' calls against his team.
Henry's involvement with the Port Melbourne Basketball Association as a player and referee began in 1934.
He coached referees, lectured on the rules and interpreted them for associations throughout Australia. He held six life memberships with various basketball associations and won several merit awards, and the referee club rooms at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre are named in his honour.
As well as serving in many executive positions and on tribunals, he was a selector with Victorian and national associations and coached at almost all levels of the sport.
Aside from basketball Henry was president of Port Melbourne Football Club for 10 years, the club's timekeeper for 30 years and was a Victorian Football Association tribunal member.
Henry loved classical music and Pavarotti was his favourite singer.
In his retirement Henry drove elderly and disabled people, and delivered meals on wheels.
He was a life member of Port Melbourne Trugo and Elderly Citizens Club, senior vice-president of Victorian Trugo Association for five years and treasurer of the Port Melbourne club for three years.
The Freemasons Homes of Victoria appointed him a life governor in 1962.
Henry, 91, died of natural causes at a Port Melbourne nursing home.
Survivors include Dianne. Edie died in 1997.