b'The Great Eastern Mail DECEMBER 2, 2022 03"IN EAST GIPPSLAND, THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE SHOWING UP AND SHOWING INTEREST IN THE SPORT, COMPARED TO THE NUMBERS WE GET TO THESE PROGRAMS IN METRO AREAS; ITS REALLY GREAT!"T O support the establishmentenjoy the sport again. and growth of softball inShannan has been investing East Gippsland, Softballaround 20 hours a week of unpaid Victoria have delivered clinics attime to ensure the weekly sessions local schools, provided start-uprun smoothly, the program is funding, equipment, merchandise,promoted on social media, and she uniforms, marketing support andwas the reason the East Gippsland other resources, to assist this groupSoftball was officially incorporated of devoted locals to deliver twoso quickly, says Dave Smith, who is Home Run Heroes programs. TheseShannans husband and President six-week programs are designed toof the East Gippsland Softball provide children aged 4 to 13 yearsAssociation, as well as the Safety/with a weekly opportunity to tryCompliance/Child Protection Officer softball, learn new skills and makeand official Photographer.new friends.Also committed to the success of Softball Victorias Participationthis undertaking are Coaches, Jake Coordinator for Regional Victoria,Hutchins and Ashley Jarvis.Jo Schutt, travelled from MelbourneI\'ve been playing either baseball on two separate occasions to deliveror softball for the last 35 years, says softball clinics to local schools,Seattle-born Jake whos lived in and has been impressed by theAustralia since 2003 and is father toPhotos courtesy:turnout at the weekly Home Runthree girls aged 10, 7 and 2. I wasDave & Shannan Smith Heroes sessions, which are heldpractically raised with a bat in my(SmithCreative.com.au)at Bairnsdale West Recreationhands, and as a young lad I dreamed Reserve on Saturday mornings. Inof playing for the Seattle Mariners! Shannan. One simple way peopleconfidence, skills and play as a team,later date, I would love to see a East Gippsland, there are a lot moreGetting a competition going incan support our fundraising, isno matter what ability you have.more competitive element to the people showing up and showingEast Gippsland will be a dream comeby signing up and using a FREEEveryone here is so encouraging,Associationwhere we compete interest in the sport, compared to thetrue, he adds as some of my fondestdiscount fuel card with UPsupportive and welcomingevenagainst other regions, for example numbers we get to these programs inmemories are playing softball withCommunity. When you sign up tomy original mitt that I managed to but for now, I think our focus will metro areas; its really great! my brother and dad; so, to get thisparticipate, every time you fill updig out and which still works well!be predominantly on just having fun Lakes Entrance local, Shannanopportunity to do it with my ownat a participating United ServiceAdult participant Bec White,and developing or reigniting the love Smith, played tee ball and softballkids is fantastic! Station, you\'ll receive a two centsplayed baseball and softball fromfor this great game.at a state level in Western AustraliaMum to three children, Ashley wasper litre discount, and a 2 centsage of 13 years and stopped onlyOf course, in order for all this to and recalls throwing the ball aroundalso born and raised in the Unitedper litre rebate will be provided tobecause it ceased being offered inhappen, we do need more people with her dad for at least an hour aStates, where softball and baseballEast Gippsland Softball. For fullthe area. She says, 25 years ago,to help us. Its not sustainable for day during her childhood. Shannanwere part of her childhood summers.details or to sign up visit www. baseball was held at the Worldall the responsibilities to fall on the is the Home Run Heroes ProgramMuch like Jakes experience, it wasunitedpetroleum.com.au/fuel- Centre in West Bairnsdale and it wasshoulders of just a few people, adds Coordinator, as well as the Secretarya sport my whole family enjoyeddiscount-cards/up-community/ huge back then. Im really excited toDave.and Coach for the East Gippslandtogether and so I am also supereast-gippsland-softball-inc/ get some of those players involvedIf you or your kids are interested Softball Association. Personally,excited to be able to share the gameBairnsdale local Sherryn Hewettin it again, so they can teach thein trying or playing softball, or if you I would love to see the youngerwith others. is a Home Run Heroes Coach whograndkids! can help get the game going in East generation fall in love with a sportLike all grass-roots sports clubs,played softball some 35 years ago.The current Home Run HeroesGippsland, contact the committee that I loved growing up. Id also likeEast Gippsland Softball are alsoShe says, What I love about thisprogram will conclude on 10by finding East Gippsland to see those who loved playing whenfundraising. We need to buy anprogram is that there are no winnersDecember, but will continue inSoftball on Facebook or email they were younger, come back andequipment storage shed, saysor losers; instead, the idea is to build2023, explains Shannan. 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