Softball Victoria would like to acknowledge our Victorian Members who were recognised with Softball Australia Service Awards for 2021.

The Softball Australia Service Award is for recognition of services to Softball in Australia, and is presented to any person with at least ten years of noteworthy services to Australian softball.

Dandenong Softball Association:

• Since she started playing junior softball for Dandenong, Andrea ‘Andy’ Wanke has left an indelible mark on softball for more than 40 years. She progressed through the playing ranks to Open Representative teams, and has served as team manager for both U23 Men’s and Women’s teams at state level. Andy has been Secretary to various Committees since 1982, and has been a member of the DSA Executive since 2003. She has also been tournament coordinator and scorer at state championships held by Dandenong.
• Lee Marsh’s softball career has also spanned more than four decades. She has served on the Dandenong executive as Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, been President of the Southern Knights, and Secretary of the SEMR committee. She has served on sub committees at state level, and been chief selector for state teams, and was instrumental during the inaugural Men’s season in 1981, serving as coach and committee member.

Geelong Softball Association:

• Chris McManus has been playing softball for over 50 years, starting out as a seven year-old at East Rovers. Chris has contributed to no less than five clubs within the Geelong Softball Association (GSA), and has been an executive member of the Vicsens Masters Softball and Sports Club since 1997. She has been Secretary for GSA on several occasions, and received the Merle Short Service Award in 2020.
• Janine Jewell has been actively involved in Geelong Softball since 1967, when she began playing with St Thomas Softball Club, before helping form the Saints Softball Club. Over 15 years at the Saints, she served as a player, club and GSA representative, coach of both seniors and juniors, while also serving as a GSA executive member and president. The GSA junior umpiring award is named in her honour, and in 2003 she received Life Membership of the Geelong Softball Association, and the Merle Short Service Award in 2020.
• Stacey Birch’s involvement in the GSA stretches back for more than 30 years. After beginning with the All Stars club, she has assisted in virtually every aspect of GSA operations, including assisting the canteen, and line umpiring. She received Life Membership of the Geelong Softball Association in 2012 and has been Secretary at the All Stars for more than 20 years. She continues to organise the All Stars Masters teams, and in 2020 was a recipient of the Merle Short Service Award.

Knox and District Softball Association:

• Lawrie Hand’s involvement in softball covers almost 50 years, as he began umpiring in 1967 when his wife started playing the game. Since then, he has been a junior and Masters coach, Knox and District Softball Association President on multiple occasions, World Master's Games committee member and Victorian Softball Association’s Master's committee member. He has been convenor of two State Championships, and more recently mentored teams from the Worowa Aboriginal College in Healesville.
• Mark Rigg has held high level softball coaching and administration positions for nearly three decades. Mark has been Head Coach for the Open Women’s Victorian State Team, coach of Knox Representative Teams for more than 15 years, President of Lilydale Ejays Softball Club for more than 20 years, and a member of the Knox and District Softball Association committee for more than 10 years. He was honoured with Lilydale Ejays life membership in 2017, and presented with the Association’s Life Membership award in 2014.
• Maureen Young has been involved in softball as a player, administrator and scorer for many decades. She served on the Knox and District Softball Association Committee for nearly 15 years, and has been awarded Life Memberships from the Lilydale Ejays Softball Club, Knox and District Softball Association, and Hard Knox Masters Softball Club. Maureen’s dedication to scoring has also been recognised with a Level 2 Scoring Certificate.

Melbourne Softball Association:

• Neil Duyvestyn has been an active member of softball in Victoria since 1997, as a player, umpire, statistician, administrator and coach across all age groups. His contributions to softball at Fawkner Park have contributed to the success of Melbourne Softball Association.

Sunshine Softball Association

• For over 20 years Jeff Barratt has dedicated himself to both Sunshine Softball Association and Melbourne Softball Association. Jeff was on the Albion North Softball Club Committee for more than 10 years, and has represented Sunshine Softball Association as a player, umpire and coach. Jeff was also recognised as a Merle Short Service Award in 2020.
• Over the span of 20 years, Jenny Barratt has worked as a passionate volunteer at Sunshine Softball Association and Melbourne Softball Association, and the Albion North Softball Club and Red Devils Softball Club. Her work in administrative roles has been invaluable, and she was recognised for her efforts in 2020 with the Merle Short Service Award.
• Since 1985-86, Robert McMahon has represented Altona Blues, Raiders, GSD, and Deer Park as a player. Rob has represented Sunshine Softball Association and Softball Victoria, and at various times he has also been an umpire and coach, taking Victoria’s U16 Boys team to the grand final at the 2020 National Championships. He has coached juniors and seniors, and worked tirelessly at Sunshine Softball Association as a weekly volunteer for more than 15 years, earning the Merle Short Service Award in 2019.
• Trish Rae became involved in softball in 1993 when her daughters began playing and she became a coach and scorer for their teams. She has served her club Hiway for more than 15 years and served continuously on the Sunshine Softball Association (SSA) board for more than 10 years. She is an SSA Life Member, a recipient of the Merle Short Service award, and continues to support Sunshine at state championships as a volunteer.

Waverley Softball Association:

• Since beginning his umpiring career in the early 1980s, Lindsay Whitehead has rising through the ranks of softball umpiring, culminated in his Level 6 accreditation in 1998. Lindsay has played an integral role in training aspiring umpires at Waverley, and has been an active member of the Victorian Umpiring Committee including State Director of Umpiring.
• Rob Cunningham has been a fixture at WSA since 1979-80 when his daughter began playing softball. Since then, he has been involved as coach and club committee member, and was twice awarded WSA Service Awards and Life Membership. His contributions to the WSA Grounds Committee have been instrumental to the improvements at Waverley.

Werribee Softball Association:

• Kylie James began her softball journey playing juniors for the Melton Softball Club and has represented Werribee at State Championships as both player and coach. She regularly runs pitching components at clinics, and served on the Werribee Executive for multiple years in the role as Vice President.

Service Award Nominations are submitted by a State Association or by the Softball Australia Board of Management, with Service Awards decided by the Board of Management.