Life Members

Whilst most elected Life Members of a Club have done outstanding service to that Club, the contribution that Norm Hord made to the game of baseball in the St George and Sutherland area went beyond the Club and any one association. Indeed, in the “St George Leader” newspaper in approx. 1991, the comment was made “He is to the district what Babe Ruth was to the American dream during the Great Depression.”

After his own playing career in the game, Norm dedicated much time to coaching the basics of the game. Norm spent many hours with Tee-ballers working on all aspects of the game. He enjoyed working with the younger members of the game, encouraging them at every opportunity.

For those that don’t know the roots of St George Junior Baseball Club, it evolved from the St George PCYC organisation. Our first team was in 1982/3 and was a team of Tee-ballers. Norm had been coaching at Scots for many years and he now devoted his attention to this new organisation. Being at the forefront of creating something new was not new to Norm as he founded Diamonds Baseball Club and was instrumental in the creation of the St George Baseball Umpires Association. This latter organisation also awarded Norm Life Membership.

Norm coached Tee-ballers in St George from 1982/3 right through until approx. 1993. He also made himself available to other coaches and players to help improve their games. Whilst Norm “retired” from coaching at around the age of 75, he kept tabs on many of his young charges as they progressed into the senior competition. Whenever the minor league teams played at Evatt on a Sunday afternoon, you would find Norm watching on, and never forgetting a name.

Those that were coached by Norm will undoubtedly have their fond memories of this gentleman of the game. One such memory recalled by a number of people was the signals that Norm used to give his Tee-ball batters. One finger on the chest meant hit the ball towards 1st, 2 fingers meant hit towards 2nd, and 3 fingers was obviously 3rd. Signals were not supposed to be allowed, but the kids thought it was great as they were getting signals like the big boys.

Apart from competition days, Norm also leant a hand coaching in Gala Days, both for the kids and also the, now defunct, Mothers Tee-ball gala day held at St Jhn Bosco. In this latter event, fun was the order of the day and often there were Mums that had not played the game before. Norm took it all in his stride and everyone enjoyed themselves.

It is fair to say that through his efforts, not only with St George, many people have had a great time with the game of baseball. They have learned to play the game fairly and to reach the highest level that they could.

Norm was an outstanding ambassador for the game in this area and his memory will live on with the 8th Grade StGBA Premiership Trophy and our own Junior Baseballer of the Year Trophy named in his honour.

Anne Wotton (1995)

In 1982/3, a group of young players got together and wanted to play baseball together. They formed the basis of a new club in the CSJBA competition known as St George PCYC. The new club needed a committee and Anne became the inaugural president of the club.

With only one team and this not many parents around to do the work, the committee was small and doubled up on roles. Anne also took on the roll of gear steward to ensure that the players had the uniforms and equipment they needed to take the field.

From humble beginnings in 1982/3 and only one team, Anne held the offices of President and Gear Steward concurrently through to 1991/2 – 10 seasons in a row. During this period, the club grew to 4 teams which were spread from Tee- ballers through to a senior team in the CSMLBA competition. Many of the players in this senior team came from that first side in 1982/3.

Anne handed over the reigns to a new committee in 1992/3, but continued for another season as the gear steward. It was at this time that the club started to relocate and change names to St George Junior Baseball Club Inc at Evatt Park.

For all the effort that Anne put into the management of this new, developing club, Anne was awarded Life Membership in 1995. However, this is not where it finished for Anne. For many years after this, Anne would be seen at the games, sometimes as a scorer, sometimes as a team manager.

On a Sunday afternoon, Anne could be seen at Evatt watching the senior teams go round and watching many of the kids that she presided over continuing in a game that she had a penchant for.

With the inception of the St George PCYC in 1982/3, Norm Hord, another one of the clubs life members, coached the young players. In 1985/6, Dennis took over the team with Norm. In many respects, the rest is history.

Dennis had played the game for many years and coaching was an avenue where he could impart his knowledge and skills of the game to the younger players.

Season after season, Dennis gave of his time and knowledge of the game to coach players, mainly in the under 14’s and 16’s. Many of these teams were in the Div 1 competitions where Dennis was able to urge the players to be the best players they could be.

Dennis was a no-nonsense coach who wanted his players to play at the highest level possible. He earned the respect of his players and peers during this time.

Towards the end of the 1990’s, Dennis continued to coach the juniors on a Saturday and took on the senior minor league team on a Sunday afternoon. This senior side contained many of the players that he had worked with in the junior competition.

For many years, Dennis coached teams where he did not have any children in the side. Such is his love of the game. Not only would Dennis impart his knowledge to the players but if asked, he would make himself available to assist other coaches and players in other teams.

Dennis was awarded Life Membership in 1995 after a dedicated period of coaching which is he continued to do for many more years.

Peter Wakefield (1999)

Peter became involved in the club in the late 1980’s when it was still known as St George PCYC. Keen to be involved in the management of the club, Peter was elected as Secretary and Treasurer in 1989/90, positions which he held in the following season as well.

In the early 1990’s, the club Executive endeavoured to enter a team in the Under 18 Major League competition. As Peter was to coach this team, he was not allowed to coach or hold a committee position elsewhere. The venture did not succeed and Peter returned to the coaching and committee of St George in 1993/4.

With the transition to St George Junior Baseball Club and relocation to Evatt Park from Ador Ave, Peter was in the middle of the communication and organisation holding the position of Secretary from 1993/4 through to 1999/2000.

During this period, Peter was also coaching teams in the Under 16 competition and instigated registration and coaching of a Senior team in the CSMLBA competition in 1997/8. This first team comprised players, most of who had come through the junior ranks.

The club was in a growth phase through this period of time from 4 teams in 1989/90 to 15 teams in 1999/2000. This meant significant communications with both senior and junior associations as well as members of the club itself. It should be remembered that most communication in this period was also hard copy and typed as opposed to the emails that we take for granted today.

After 10 years working on the Executive of the club, Peter was awarded Life Membership in 1999. Like many others, Peter was not finished at this point taking on the role of President in 2000/01 and then Vice-President from 2001/2 through to 2006/7.

Peter has also continued to coach, mainly with the senior teams. In many respects, Peter has become a “father figure” to many of the players. He is certainly a well respected member of the club who has devoted many years of service to the game.

Phillip Crook (2000)

Along with his family, Phillip brought his administrative talents to the club being elected as the registrar of the club in 1995/6. He held this position again the following season and also took on the role of junior delegate to the CSJBA.

Not only taking on these roles, Phillip also took on the role of coach of the Under 14/1 team in 1995/6 and continued to coach junior teams for the following 5 seasons. There were some seasons where he coached one of the more junior sides in the morning and then one of the 16’s teams in the afternoon.

It was as a delegate to the CSJBA that Phillip became involved and was elected to the Executive of the CSJBA. It was during this time that Phillip gave voice to the clubs on the northern side of the river.

Phillip was elected as vice-president in 1999/2000 and with his work for the club both on and off the field, he was nominated as a life member in 2000.

Phillip continued to work for the club as President in 2001/2 and on the general committee in 2002/3.

Phillip was also heavily involved in the incorporation of the club and was the clubs first public officer.

Michael Williams (2001)

Since joining the club in the late 1980’s when the club was known as St George PCYC, Michael has given stirling service to the club in a variety of ways. Junior baseball has been his passion, both administratively and on weekends.

Mike represented the Club as a delegate to the CSJBA for a number of seasons, the earliest being in 1991/2 season. He was again a delegate in 1992/3 and 1999/2000. In this forum, he was well respected with a breadth of knowledge of the game at a junior level.

One of Mike’s biggest contributions to the club came with his appointment as the Groundsman at Evatt Park in 1996/7. This appointment was shortly after the Club had moved from Rockdale and become St George Junior Baseball Club. Mike approached Council for the implementation of the movable fences that are still in use today on the Number 1 diamond. Given all of the above, it is not surprising that Mike was awarded Club Person of the Year in 1995/6.

During the summer months, it was not uncommon to see Mike at Evatt pulling out weeds, marking lines and getting ready for the weekend. His dedication to the fields reflected in many opposition clubs suggesting that Evatt was the best playing surface in the competition at that time.

Mike filled a key role in the erection of the storage/canteen that we utilise at Evatt Park. Part of a joint committee together with Oatley Rugby and Penshurst RSL, the committee gained funding with NSW Sport & Rec and Hurstville Council. Mike and the committee then oversaw the building and fit-out of the facility.

Mike has also probably lost count of the number of players he has coached over the years. Starting with the Under 10/2 team in 1993/4, Mike continued with this group of players for a few seasons up through the Under 14’s. Mike then found a group of Under 9’s and worked with them through to the Under 16’s.

In 2001 when Mike was celebrated as a Life Member, he was coaching the Under 16’s as well as a Minor League team. Grounds during the week, juniors on a Saturday and then seniors on a Sunday! This is clearly dedication to the game and the club.

It must be noted that Mike continued to coach each season until the end of the 2009/10 season. In these last seasons, Mike worked with the Under 8’s, 9’s and 10’s to instil the basic aspects of the game which stood many of these players well for future seasons. Who could also forget the “Power Pills” that came with Mike for every one of these games?

Mike was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 his volunteer work for baseball, a well earned reward.

Apart from his service to the club, Mike has also been a member of the St George- Sutherland Baseball Umpires Assoc where he is still out umpiring on weekends when he is available.

Melanie Williams (2003)

Melanie’s administrative involvement with the club began in the 1994/5 season when she took on the role of Assistant Secretary. It was at this time that the club was establishing itself as the St George Junior Baseball Club in its new home at Evatt Park. It was at this stage that Melanie instigated photos for all players and teams to keep a history of the club.

She was also instrumental in the petitioning of the fences that we still use on the main diamond at Evatt Park. There was a lot of opposition to the erection of the fences by some residents, but Melanie continued and we see the results of her efforts today.

Melanie became President of the Club in 1996/7, a position she would hold for 4 successive years. It was during this time that the club was expanding and getting a stronghold in the area. It was also during this time that the club became incorporated, a necessary step under the legislation and growth of the club. Her efforts with the growth of the club and the erection of the fences was recognised in the 1997/8 season with the award of Club Person of the year.

When Melanie stepped aside from the Presidency, it was not far and not for long. After a season as Vice-President in 2000/1, and then registrar in 2001/2, she was again voted as President in 2002/3.

Apart from these management roles within the club, Melanie would be at the park every weekend watching games, sometimes scoring, and always with her signature red hat. She would wander between the diamonds and knew every player in the club.

Presentation days at Evatt were also a passion for Melanie with the trophies for all the players and not to forget the commentary of the annual “Fathers & Sons” game.

After being awarded Life Membership in 2003, Melanie has remained involved with the club as a member of various sub-committees, the latest being to bring our club constitution up to date in 2013/14.

Deb became involved with the club through two sons playing the game and a husband who became involved in coaching. Not content to just be there on a Saturday, she took on a number of roles with the clubs administration.

In 1997/8, Deb took on the role of Assistant Secretary. Not content to do just one role on the Committee, Deb also took on the position of Canteen Manager. She held both of these positions for the following season as well devoting significant time during the week and weekend on stocking the canteen as well as preparing minutes of the meetings and following up on actions.

Deb took on the role of Secretary in the 2000/1 season and held this position for four successive seasons. It was during this time that communications became quicker with less reliance on paper and more emphasis on email. Deb was also an integral member of the Sub-committee for the Constitution in this period which tailored the Office of Fair Trading guidelines constitution to something that worked for our club.

Apart from her administrative roles in Committee, Deb was also a manager of teams in which her boys played, filling up even more time on weekends.

Deb was voted as Club Person of the Year in 2001/2 and was awarded Life Membership in 2004. Whilst Deb is no longer involved with the club on a day to day basis, she takes an active interest being at every Annual General Meeting and presentation ceremony when available.

Affectionately known as “Crabs” or “Crabby”, David commenced his relationship with the club in the 1998/9 season coaching a group of kids in the Under 8/3 competition. David would stay with a core group of these players right through to the Under 16 competition. When they finished in the junior ranks, David continued with them into the Minor League competition.

Under David’s guidance, many of these players were in premiership winning sides and continue to play with the club.

David has not only done a significant amount of coaching year after year, but he also joined the Committee in the 2002/3 season as the registrar. Since that season, David has given of his time in each successive year on the Committee in a variety of positions including Delegate to the CSMLBA, Delegate to the CSJBA, gear steward, and canteen manager.

David was awarded the Club Person of the Year award in 2005/6 as recognition of his efforts and was subsequently voted a Life Member in 2008. Not resting after these awards, David has continued to serve the club as President and vice- president as well and has continued to coach teams in the senior competitions run by the CSMLBA and StGBA.

Not only has David coached players and assisted in the management of the club, but has for many years been the junior umpire co-ordinator for the club. This has not only seen David organising junior umpires for the Saturday morning games, but also supervising these umpires and developing them. Many have gone on to be qualified umpires supervising senior games. A number of representatives from other clubs have commented on the ability of the St George umpires as some of the best around. This is another testimony to the work done by David.

It should also be noted that David has also held Committee positions in the CSJBA (Junior Vice-President), CSMLBA, and the St George-Sutherland Baseball Umpires Assoc. David is a life member of Penshurst-West Cowboys Baseball Club, CSMLBA and St George-Sutherland Baseball Umpires Association.

Robert Buggie (2008)

Rob’s affiliation with the club commenced in the 1997/8 season, but it wasn’t until the following season that he started coaching a team in the under 12/3 competition. Rob worked with this group for a number of seasons before coaching with the seniors in 2001/2 season. He has continued to coach senior teams since then as well as some junior sides.

In 2000/1, Rob was elected Treasurer of the club, a position he held for a three seasons. In 2001/2, Rob was also a delegate to the CSMLBA and was voted as Senior Baseballer of the Year.

Rob has continued to hold various positions on the Committee. Such positions include registrar, delegate to CSMLBA/StGBA and general committee. Rob was also involved in the re-write of the club’s Constitution to help bring it up to date in line with Office of Fair Trading guidelines.

Working together with Dave Crabtree, Rob has been involved in the coaching and development of our junior umpires on Saturday morning since 2002/3. A number of these umpires have since gone on to become fully accredited and working in senior games.

For the work that Rob has done with the club, he was voted a life member in 2008 and since then has continued to serve the club in a variety of ways including committee (registrar, secretary and assistant secretary) as well as coaching the 1st grade coach since 2008/9.

Rob has also held positions on the CSJBA Executive (Senior Vice-President) and CSMLBA as President for 3 seasons. He is also involved with the St George Sutherland Baseball Umpires Assoc where he was President for 4 seasons.

Matthew Bone (2010/11)

Matthew commenced with the club in 1992/3 as a player in the Under 12’s. At that time, he was a coaches nightmare working out whether his was left or right handed! Time has shown he is right-handed as a batter and fielder and has performed strongly as a player, particularly catcher.

In 2000/1, Matthew was voted the Junior Baseballer of the Year. This was due not only to his playing ability, but also club involvement across the junior and senior ranks.

The following season saw Matthew progress into the top senior side where he has been an integral member every season. He started to coach junior sides in 2001/2 with the Under 10’s and then Under 14’s. Matthew was voted Senior Baseballer of the Year in 2002/3.

The 2002/3 season also saw Matthew take on the Committee position of groundsman. Vacating the position held by Michael Williams for many years, Matthew was there each weekend to assist with the marking and set-up of the fields, and often at the close of the day to put everything away. This is apart from the work midweek in repairing aspects of the field as necessary. Matthew has held this position since.

Matthew has continued with his coaching of junior teams up until the end of the 2009/10 season, restarting in 2013/4. In 2010/11, Matthew also took on the role of delegate to the CSMLBA/StGBA.

With an exemplary playing career and dedication to the club both as a coach and committee member, Matthew was awarded Life Membership in 2010.

With other members of the family involved in one manner or another, it was not surprising that Chris became involved in the club. In the 2000/1 season, Chris was down on the number 2 diamond on a Saturday morning as an umpire for Tee-ball and soft-toss games.

The relationship with the junior teams was formed and Chris was “snapped-up” to help coach a side in the following season. This led to Chris achieving his formal coaching credentials and taking on teams by himself and with others.

Since 2002/3, Chris has coached sides in both juniors and seniors. Indeed, in some seasons, Chris would be coaching a team on both Saturday morning, followed by an Under 17 side in the afternoon, and then back to the park on Sunday for a Minor League side.

If not coaching, Chris would be scoring or helping out in one way, shape, or form.

Chris became involved in the Committee in 2003/4 as a groundsman. When the position of Secretary became vacant in 2005/6, Chris took on the position and made it his own. He held this position for three seasons before taking on the role of President.

Chris was voted a Life Member in 2010 and since then has continued to coach sides as well as being President and publicity officer and registrar for the club.

Not only has Chris served the club in the above manner, he has also worked with the Committee of the CSJBA and held the position of President with the CSMLBA for some 5 years.

Michael Carter (2015)

Michael joined the club as a junior player in around 1992. His talent as a player was clearly recognisable and as he progressed in the age groups, he was selected for representative honours within the association.

Shortly after this, Michael pursued his playing career elsewhere, but came back to St George as a coach. Since this time, he has coached or been an assistant coach of various teams and has also assisted other teams and coaches, particularly in the arts of pitching and catching.

After returning to St George as an integral member of the 1st Grade team, Michael became further involved in the club by joining the Committee. In 2010, Michael was the assistant Asset Manager and in the following season took on the role full- time as well as being one of our delegates to the senior playing associations. In these roles, he has given considerably of his personal time to attend meetings, purchase equipment for the club, as well as delivering the equipment to coaches to ensure that the players were game day ready.

Michael was awarded the Scott Spriggins award as the Senior Baseballer of the year in the 2010/11 season. This was in recognition of his efforts not only on the playing field, but also his overall involvement with the club.

In later seasons, Michael has also assisted in the development of the junior umpires as well as assisting on club days including the set-up and pull-down of the ground and presentation days.

For his efforts over many seasons to benefit others, Michael was awarded life membership in 2015.