Life Membership, Merle Short Service and State Team Awards were among the top honours bestowed upon members of the Victorian softball community at the 2018 Softball Victoria State Dinner on Saturday night.
Held at Freccia Azzura in Braeside, the State Dinner highlighted the contributions of volunteers to the Victorian softball community and recognised those who had achieved success on a State, National and International level.
Kerrie Maddern and Mary Walkinshaw were recognised for their outstanding service to the Victorian Softball Community with Softball Victoria Life Membership.
Both Kerrie and Mary have been involved in the sport for many years, taking on a range of roles including umpiring, playing and administration, demonstrating their dedication to the sport and the broader softball community. Most notably, both life members have been key to the development of scorers in Victoria. Kerrie played an integral role in the development of the Victorian Scoring Committee, while Mary has given up significant amounts of her own time to develop and grow the level of scorers in Victoria.
Sunshine Association’s Lynda Otimi and Jodie Lightowler and Waverley Association’s Allison Pendlebury and Angela Forgan were recognised for their valuable contributions to the softball community with the Merle Short Service Award.
Jim Giles of Dandenong Association was awarded the Lorraine Davies Statistician of the Year, marking his significant achievements over the past season.
The Margo Koskelainen Victorian Umpire of the Year was awarded to Richard Dodds for his success on the national and international stage as an umpire.
The Softball Victoria State Team Award Winners were also presented on the night, alongside a host of Umpires, Statisticians and Athletes who were recognised for their achievements in gaining national representation.
The full list of winners on the night is available below. Head over to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page to check out all the action from the night.
Award Recipients
Softball Victoria Life Member Recipients
Kerrie Maddern and Mary Walkinshaw
Softball Victoria Merle Short Service Award
Lynda Otimi (Sunshine Association)
Jodie Lightowler (Sunshine Association)
Allison Pendlebury (Waverley Association)
Angela Forgan (Waverley Association)
Statisticians Awards
Lorraine Davies Statisticians of the Year
Jim Giles (Dandenong Association)
Rising Star Statistician of the Year
Jacqui Glassey (GEMSA) and Paul Little (Casey Association)
Umpires Awards
John Larter Umpire Development Award
Saxon Bailey
Marj Dwyer Memorial Scholarship Award
Les Morrison
Margo Koskelainen Victorian Umpire of the Year
Richard Dodds
State Teams Award Winners
TEAM | MVP | BEST PLAYER |
U15 Girls | Taimania Graham | Brodie Hendy |
Chelsea Kimber | ||
U17 Girls | Grace Peters | Lara Horman |
Elise Cramer | ||
U19 Women | Marlie Hurinui | Amelia Mercuri |
Georgia O’Donovan | ||
U23 Women | Katherine Laemmle | Rebecca Schafer |
Open Women | Sarah Tutchener | Ilsa Anstey |
U15 Boys | Ben Merrigan | Jake Wallis |
U17 Boys | Tamua Feulufai-Maxwell | Tynan Purtell |
U19 Men | Shay Crean | Sam Reale |
Open Men | Lewis Weldon | Alex Chapman |
National Representatives – Statisticians
Open Women | Open Men |
Jim Giles – Official Statisician Allison Pendlebury – Official Statistician |
Mary Walkinshaw – Official Statistician Kerryn Bell – Official Statistician |
National Representatives – Umpires
National Open Women | National Open Men | National U19 Women & Men |
Debbie Grove – Assessor Richard Dodds – Umpire |
Leigh Evans – Assessor Jason Carter – Assessor Richard Barrow – Umpire Debbie Grove –Umpire Trevor Murphy – Umpire Chris Trengove – Umpire
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Leigh Evans – TCU Trevor Murphy – Assessor David Addlem – Umpire Chris Trengove – Umpire
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National U17 Boys & Girls | Regional U15 Boys | National U23 & Friendship Series |
Richard Barrow – Assessor David Addlem – Umpire Lucy James – Umpire Talia McDonald – Umpire
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Peter Samuels – Umpire (Boys) Lucy James – Umpire (Girls) Talia McDonald – Umpire (Girls)
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Richard Barrow – Assessor David Addlem – Umpire
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Victorian Members on National Teams
2018 Aussie Steelers – Open Men’s Squad | 2018 Junior Steelers |
Ryan Sinclair Lewis Weldon
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Jim Giles (Statistician) |
2018 Aussie U17 Boys Squad | Aussie Spirit – North America Tour July 2017 |
Marcus Ferraro Tristan Little Jordan Miller Samuel Seach Cambell Utatao
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Jess Bahn Jackie Di Siervi |
Aussie Spirit – Japan Cup August 2017 | All Star Team – 2018 Asia Pacific Cup February 2018 |
Jackie Di Siervi |
Jess Bahn Jackie Di Siervi
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Friendship Series U19 Squad 2018 | |
Grace Peters Marlie Hurinui
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School Sport Victoria Sporting Blues Award Winners
Hannah Scott (Northern District Association)
Montana Chavasse (Casey Association)