Basil Sellers

Basil Sellers AM, (born 1935), grew up in the sports-mad Railway Colonies in India, where he was introduced to badminton, tennis and of course cricket. He migrated with his family to Australia in 1948, and was educated at Kings College, Adelaide. As a Businessman and philanthropist, Basil made his career breathing life into ailing companies. Basil never went to university and instead learned his business skill on the job. Leaving school at 16, he started working at the Bank of South Australia then two years later joined a stock broking firm. He has been quoted as saying "Stock broking was great fun! It was the foundation for all my experience because I was learning about raising funds and evaluating stocks – all of the things you have to do as an entrepreneur. That was my university".

Basil Sellers has been described as the 'turnaround king'. He has been chief executive and major shareholder of companies such as the Linter Group Ltd, the largest textiler in Australia; and Gestetner PLC, then a UK listed company (now part of Ricoh). Basil Sellers has also held a major investment in AFP, which had various investments, including Elders Ltd (now Fosters Brewery), broadcast media and mineral resources.

In sport, Basil played Senior Basketball, representing South Australia when the team won the Australian Championship in 1958. During the 1980s he was the owner of the Newcastle Basketball team and from 1984–87, he was a Director of the N.S.W. Association (now Cricket New South Wales). He is a Life Member of Cricket NSW.

His major charities include The McGrath Foundation, where he is a major donor, financing the salaries of the salary of a breast care nurse in South Australia, he is a First XI patron of the Steve Waugh Foundation and a generous supporter of the Pick Me UP wheelchair service for the Sir Roden & Lady Cutler Foundation.He is a Patron of The LBW Trust which raises funds for the education of over 800 disadvantaged youth in developing, cricket-playing countries. The LBW Trust enjoys the support of redoubtable figures across politics, business, sports and public life.

His donations to sporting initiatives and scholarships include the Barassi Scholarship, supporting new talent for the Sydney Swans and he is a major contributor to the Club's football centre at the SCG.

He also assists initiatives that identify and support emerging talent in country NSW cricket. Some of his past and current scholars include Phillip Hughes, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc. Josh Hazlewood, Patrick Cummins, Nic Maddinson, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Erin Osborne.

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