Sunshine Softball Association

In 1956 the Sunshine District Women`s Softball Association founded by Sergeant McLeod of the Sunshine Police Force and Mr Frank O`Brien (East Sunshine Youth Club).  A meeting was advertised in the Advocate and Miss Shirley O`Brien a member of the I.C.I. social club, Mrs Myrtle Bayliss, a well-known local sporting identity, Miss Joyce Bartlett and Mr Kerry McGuire were among the people who attended an informal meeting to promote the game of softball in Sunshine. And thus begun a long association between the city of Sunshine and softball.  The reason why softball was chosen as the sport to introduce is unknown.  The only sports open to women at that time were tennis, basketball and cricket, but there must have been a great need for another sport as there were many young girls and women in the Sunshine district who were ready and willing to play.  The first minuted meeting of the association was held on the 10th April, 1956 at the home of Mrs James in Braybrook and the Association was officially named as the "Sunshine District Women`s Softball Association" and the first round of competition set to commence on the 20th May 1956.  As softball was such a little known game, it was decided to arrange an exhibition match with two top teams from the Women`s Amateur Softball Council of Victoria, (now known as the Victorian Softball Association).  This match was scheduled to commence at 3.30pm at Barclay Reserve and any proceeds raised were to be donated to the Sunshine Hospital in King Edward Avenue.  No facilities were available at Barclay Reserve so afternoon tea consisted of oranges supplied by Sunshine members.  It was a cold day and I`m sure the players and officials would have given there all for a hot cup of tea.  There was to be a big upheaval in Sunshine and many eyebrows were raised when it was requested that a ground, namely Barclay Reserve, be made available for use for women`s sport on Sunday, because at that time, no sport was played on Sundays, especially on Sunday morning.  As this request was vetoed rather loudly, games were played during the afternoon, which Sunshine Council reluctantly agreed to.  No grounds were available to us on Sunday as football and soccer had priority on rounds during the winter months but once everyone got over the shock of Sunday sport, it become accepted that softball was going to be played Sunday afternoons come rain, hail or shine.  During that first season, clubs that entered teams were East Sunshine Youth Club, McKay`s, Sunshine Colts and I.C.I. The clubs worked hard to promote softball and gain players, there was a great deal of thought and enthusiasm put into the naming of teams and club uniforms.  It was great to have the support of firms such as McKays and I.C.I. East SunshineYouth Club (Aussies) had very enthusiastic members and many debates were had before the final colours of bottle green applecatchers and top with kangaroo emblem and yellow undershirt was decided upon. I.C.I Lions went for blue applecatchers and white top with the I.C.I monogram.  Unfortunately I cannot remember the colours of the team sponsored by H.V. McKay but vaguely recall them having red and blue and have no recollection at all of the colours of the Sunshine Colts.  A practice match was scheduled prior to the season and this was played at Lily Street Reserve on the 13th May 1956.  Looking back it was played with more enthusiasm than skill as most of the players and coaches had only a basic knowledge of the rules of the game of softball.  In fact all most knew was that we had to hit the ball and run, and if we were fielding there was great applause when a player managed to catch a ball and get someone out.  However this deterred no one and teams were gradually organised for the start of the season.  During this period, meetings, usually informal were held in various homes and on the 7th of May the first official meeting was held at which Office-Bearers were elected.  Mrs A Howard elected as President, Mrs Myrtle Bayliss as Vice-President and Miss Shirley O`Brien as Secretary.  This meeting was also attended by Miss Esther Deason who was President of the Women`s Amateur Softball Council of Victoria, Miss. Coral Thompson as Secretary, and Miss Marj Dwyer was the umpires representative from the Victorian umpires.  Meetings were held with the state body and affiliation suggested Miss Margaret Fisher volunteered to act as a delegate to the W.A.S.C of Victoria, even though she was not a playing member of Sunshine at that time. Margaret, a resident of Sunshine played with Bears in Melbourne competition and went on to represent Victoria in Softball, her family have been associated with softball and baseball in Sunshine for many years. On the 2nd of July, Mrs Howard resigned as President and although not recorded in the minutes it is obvious from later minutes that Miss Joyce Bartlett was elected unopposed.  Then again at a following meeting on 14th July, it was noted that Mrs Bayliss was unable to continue as Vice President. Mr Frank O`Brien was elected as Assistant Secretary.  The Softball Association received a great deal of assistance from the Sunshine Baseball Club in the formation years in the way of umpires, and it is recorded in the minutes that this would be voluntary as being amateurs they could not receive payment.  The baseballers had agreed to work a roster for each week to supply umpires for games, and that no matches could be played on Sunday morning.  Registration was set at 5 shillings for senior players and 2 shillings and sixpence for junior players.  Fees had to be paid in full or at sixpence per week.  How times have changed. All members of the association would be covered for insurance through the East Sunshine Youth Club at a cost of thirteen shillings and sixpence per player.  For the uninitiated the rough equivalent in the 60`s was 1 shilling = 10 cents 1 pound = $2 and pennies and halfpennies became obsolete.  Perhaps one of the most interesting motion ever moved at a meeting was that including in the minutes of those early days of softball in Sunshine, that being "that no men may vote at meetings".  To ensure that jobs were done as allocated fines of two shillings were imposed for such infractions of "to roping diamond areas, non attendance or late attendance at meetings".  As softball was being played in the winter, and in Melbourne rain must be expected during winter, a wet weather committee was formed comprising Shirley O`Brien, Keith McGrath and Joyce Bartlett, whose hapless task was to inspect the ground and decide whether it could be played upon or not.  This was usually done at about 11.00am so teams could be given sufficient notice to prevent players turning up needlessly.  The theory was good but not the transport service.   On the 2nd of July another meeting was held in the rooms behind the Sunshine Picture Theatre, courtesy of Mr George Kirby, a man who was very much behind sporting clubs in Sunshine and assisted with trophies, donations and practical help by providing a room where meetings could be held.  It was thought necessary that to become established then a constitution should be drafted by Office-Bearers.  A daunting task at that time as we had little experience in that area.  However necessity was a wonderful teacher.  It was also at this meeting that the wet weather committee was abolished on the motion of Betty McGuire and Margaret Fischer that it was not essential.  We were so enthusiastic about playing that rain and muddy grounds did not deter us from this wonderful game.  What if we did have to walk home in still more rain, wet, cold, and tired!  Happy if we won and miserable when we lost.  Nearing the end of the first year and with the final series coming, a trophy was donated by the late Mrs Steedman of the Deer Park Hotel.  It was unfortunate that the semi-final between Aussies #2 and Stars had been postponed and replayed. Aussies #1 won the first Grand Final when they defeated I.C.I Lions in a thrilling game.  This was to be the first of many a tussle between teams in the early years of the association.  From being raw beginners who had very little idea of the difference of "ball" or "strike" we had gained a little knowledge, just enough to disagree with an umpire when we were given out, but we had all had a thoroughly enjoyable time and that was what mattered.  As with all sports, problems were experienced in establishing an umpiring system.  This had not been highly successful in the first year, so rosters were drawn up of girls willing to umpire games.  The Sunshine Colts team, which had been coached by local resident Norm McGrath withdrew and their place was taken by Sunshine Heights.  The ladder at the and of this second year showed Aussies #1 on top followed by Sunshine Ladies Cricket Club, I.C.I Lions, Sunshine Heights, Sunstars, Aussies #2 and Aussies #3. Aussies #1 were unable to maintain their triumph of the previous year when they were defeated by the S.L.C.C. team.  There was a certain amount of rivalry between these two teams and you could be very sure of an entertaining match whenever the two teams met.  I can remember very willing finals in both years, as scores were very close.  Probably the most exciting final was when Comets had gone through the season undefeated and were playing Deer Park in the Grand Final.  At the bottom of the 7th inning Deer Park were down 13 runs to 2 and being a very competitive team, they never knew the meaning of the word "defeat".  They started a batting rally and confounded the Comets team (who at that stage thought they had the "game in the bag") by batting in 13 runs and winning the game.  Judy Taylor still says "we won by 13 runs" and that "the game`s never over until the umpire calls time and game". Kerry McGuire puts it rather differently.  Even after all this time he is still saying "Thirteen b____y runs". Players were gaining experience and we felt we were good enough to put together a team to take on a team from Melbourne Association.  Kerry McGuire, Bill Morrison and Joe McIntyre were brave enough to take on the task of selecting these players.  We didn`t win but we enjoyed ourselves and that was the name of the game.  Tom McIntyre donated a trophy for the Most Outstanding Player from the team that had been entered by the St Albans Youth Club.  This team had braved the elements and numerous train journeys to participate in the competition and it was no mean feat in those days to walk from Sunshine railway station to Castley Reserve where games were played, Who could forget Viv Harris, at the age of five, cuddled up to her teddy bear, wrapped in a blanket, while mum played softball. Viv went on to play softball and represented Sunshine in many junior teams as a catcher.  Although all members worked very hard to establish the Sunshine Association as a viable sporting body.  And women`s sport in the 50's and 60's did not enjoy the profile that it does today, even now in the 90's it is still a very minor compared to the coverage by the media which is given to all men`s sports, many functions were organised as social events.

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