Club History

Over the 45+ years history of the Falcons Softball Club and its predecessor clubs, Ashwood Softball Club and Waverley North Softball Club, thousands of girls, women, and the occasional boy, have taken the field in pursuit of friendly, albeit competitive, recreation. The history of the club(s) has spanned the rapid development and maturity of Melbourne's eastern suburbs. The growth, then subsequent decline, in the numbers of people engaged in group recreation is evident in the following account.

Ashwood Softball Club (1961 - 1985)

Girls from the Ashwood area first played softball in 1961 when a team from the Ashwood Girls Club played in the C Grade senior division of the newly formed Waverley Softball Association. The team played at Pinewood Reserve, Mt. Waverley. In 1962, this team, coached by Norma Allsopp, daughter of Arthur Allsopp, won the B Grade competition. The following year, players from the Melbourne winter competition joined the Ashwood girls to play in the first A Grade team. Members of this team included Norma Allsopp, Rita Guy, the Mallett sisters, Margaret Malone, Judy de Lacy, Margaret & Maureen Berry and Rhonda Boyd (who later represented Australia). Rita Guy coached the Ashwood Softball Club's only A Grade premiership team in 1969/70.

In 1962, Chadstone Primary School joined the competition with a team styled "Chaddy Chimps" which was coached by Bob Flanagan. Two of the fathers who assisted with the Chadstone team were Max Scott and Les Mallett. Following a suggestion in 1965 by Ray Allsopp, Arthur Allsop's son, the Chadstone team amalgamated with a team from Bayview Primary School. This enabled Ashwood Softball Club to field 3 teams by 1966.
Following a talk by Arthur & Ray Allsopp, Essex Heights Primary School entered a team in the competition in 1967. The team was managed by teacher Dorothy Reedijk and Joyce Houston. Arthur Allsop coached the team. The Essex Heights Club was organised by Betty and Denis Burt and, later, by Elaine Schultz.
Glen Iris Primary School adopted softball through the efforts of teachers Russell Armstrong (1970/71), then John Lynch. Mary McQuirk organised the Glen Iris Primary School team from 1973-1983 aided by Charles Shaddock, and Kim & Cathy Yarnton. Mary was highly successful both at Waverley and in inter-school sport, winning the Metropolitan competition several times. John Lynch started the Ashwood East (Camberwell) section of the club in 1982/83.

Jack Howell (Bayview Primary School), Carmel Godfrey (Solway Primary School), Chris Chugg (Ashburton Primary School) and Don Leishman (Ashwood Primary School) were others who fostered teams.
Waverley Softball Association moved its competition to Jells Park in 1971/72. During this season, Glenys Sadler (nee Brockley) coached a team from Waverley North Primary School. Some of those girls played for the Ashwood Under 14 team - the first amalgamation with Waverley North!!

The Club's management evolved over the years to enable coordination of the numerous primary school teams comprising the club. The club managers, Leo Mallet, Max Scott, Denis Burt, Paul Doswell, Graeme Stevens and Geoff Mansfield served the club tirelessly. Their management had placed the club, which fielded 19 teams in the 1984/1985 season, in a sound financial position. The Club's A Grade coaches, Rita Guy, Rhonda Boyd, Aubrey Kotz, Tony Bates & Barabara Bates, gave their time and talents generously to the club and many girls benefitted from their coaching. Many fine players played for Ashwood Softball Club and in representative teams for Waverley, Victoria & Australia.

Glenys Sadler was appointed as Ashwood Softball Club's first Life member in 1977. Elaine Schultz was appointed a Life member in 1985. See the Life membership page for a more detailed account of their contribution to the club, to softball, and to the positive development of countless girls who passed through the Club.
The red, white and black colurs of the Ashwood softball Club were worn proudly by all of its members!

Waverley North Softball Club (1971 - 1985)

As a result of the Waverley North Primary School softball team winning the 1971 Waverley district schools premiership, a small group of interested parents were elected to a committee on 29 September 1971 to enter a team to play in the Waverley Softball Association competition. The committee comprised Don Eason (President), B Hopgood (Secretary), R Stewart (Treasurer), D. Bennett (Manageress). The general committee comprised Mesdames Burrows, Caddaye, Fenby, Stewart, McIntyre, Godwin, Pobjoy, Eason & Hopgood. Support for the new club came from Eric Shelley (Headmaster), Miss V. Shields (Waverley North Primary School), Peter Phillips and Dianne Barr (Syndal). The club uniform was a white tee-shirt with Waverley North Primary School colours, green knickerbockers and long white socks. The first team from Waverley North Primary School (Grade 6) played with Ashwood Softball Club in D minor 2 grade with Glenys Brockley as coach.

The first AGM for the Waverley North Softball Club was held on 15 August 1972 in the Waverley North School Library. Mrs June Godwin was elected Secretary and Mrs Dot Stevenson was elected to the committee. Both played important roles in the ensuing years. In the Club's first full year, 1972/73, 3 Femme teams (1 in C Grade and 2 in D Grade) and 4 Pixie teams were fielded. During the season the club had its first representative players selected for Waverley Softball Association's Pixie All Stars team: Penny Burke, Elaine Clarke, Sally Dusting & Teena Jones. The Pixie B2 team, coached by Sue Burrows and Kerry McIntyre, won the premiership.

The 1973/74 season saw a new president, Mrs Storey, elected. The Club again fielded 7 teams, 3 Femme & 4 Pixie. The senior team was the Femme C1 team, coached by Mrs Hopgood. During the season Jackie Stevenson, Elaine Clarke and Jenny Hopgood were selected to represent Waverley in its Under 14 team.