Since March this year, Softball Victoria has been working alongside VicHealth to reignite Softball in the Goulburn Valley and East Gippsland regions. 

East Gippsland is now the first region to have a softball program up and running, offering local Softball clinics for kids. 

Softball Victoria Participation Coordinator Jo Schutt has been working with the community in Bairnsdale to get the new association off the ground, and said they have received an incredible response from the local community since announcing the return of Softball to the region in mid-June. 

"We’ve found many people from the East Gippsland region who used to be involved are ready to get back into Softball. We have also had a lot of people wanting to try a new sport, and have learnt about how popular Softball and Teeball used to be in the area."

Over the last two months, Jo has held Home Run Heroes clinics, met with community leaders, held a softball forum, and plans to give away merchandise.  

In late July, she ran a School Roadshow for students from four local schools including Paynesville, Metung, Bruthen, and Nicholson. Students had fun playing in modified Softball games from the new Home Run Heroes program. 

East Gippsland Softball launched their first Home Run Heroes program on the 27 of August, with 19 local kids between the ages of 4 and 13 already signed up.  

Schutt said, “some have played Softball or T-ball at school, but many are being introduced to Softball for the first time”.  

Thomas, the youngest East Gippsland Softball HRH participant

Jo has also been in touch with local media, with journalists from local papers and radio stations playing an instrumental role in helping to spread the word.

She has hopes of getting a fully functional Softball competition up and running soon in Bairnsdale, giving all ages the opportunity to play Softball in a safe and inclusive environment.

“We aim to draw on the expertise of former and current local Softball players, umpires, and scorers who are excited about sharing their knowledge, as well as administrators and committee members to drive the formation of the association and run the competition.”

Through the VicHealth’s Future Health grant, Bairnsdale can provide new associations with everything they need to get programs started, including brand new equipment kits, colourful playing tops, and more.

Volunteers will also have a huge amount of support from Softball Victoria, not only in the initial stages, but throughout the operation of the Softball season.

Schutt said, “we are also in the process of duplicating this in Shepparton, where Softball was also a thriving sport about 15 years ago or more, and plans are underway to bring it back to the Goulburn Valley community.”

If you are from the Shepparton and Bairnsdale area and are wanting to get on board with the program, enter your details here.