Sandra Evans OAM – Tribute and Media Summary

Congratulations Sandra Evans on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for her outstanding service to softball and the community.

Sandra has dedicated more than 40 years to the development and promotion of softball across Australia at local, state, national, and international levels. Her contribution to the sport has been extensive, serving as a player, coach, manager, selector, specialist coach, mentor, presenter, and supporter of generations of athletes and officials.

A Life Member of the Sunshine Softball Association, Sandra played a major role in grassroots and representative softball development throughout Victoria and Australia. Her coaching career included leadership roles with Victorian State Teams and Australian Men’s National Teams, helping guide teams to World Championship Gold and Bronze Medal success.

Sandra’s national and international contributions are extensive and distinguished. She served as Assistant Coach – Pitcher and Battery Coach for Australian U16 and U19 Men’s Teams and held specialist roles in I.T. and Video Analysis for elite athlete development programs.

International Achievements and Appointments

·       2008 World Championships, Canada – Gold Medal Assistant Coach

·       2012 World Championships, Argentina – Bronze Medal Assistant Coach

·       2007 U19 Men’s Trans-Tasman Test Series, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand – Assistant Coach

·       2011 U19 Men’s Australian Test Series against Argentina – Assistant Coach

·       Friendship Series (New Zealand), New Zealand Test Series, and Japan-Australia Test Series - Coaching

National Coaching Appointments – Australian Championships

·       1994 Assistant Coach Weststars National Fastpitch league

·       1994 Victorian Assistant Coach, U19 Women’s State Team – National Champions

·       2004 Victorian Assistant Coach, U16 Boys State Team – National Champions

·       2005 Victorian Assistant Coach, U16 Boys State Team

·       2006 Victorian Assistant Coach, U19 Men’s State Team

·       2007 Victorian Assistant Coach, U19 Men’s State Team – National Champions

·       2010 Victorian Assistant Coach, U19 Men’s State Team

·       2011 Victorian Head Coach, U16 Boys State Team

·       2012 Victorian Head Coach, U16 Boys State Team

Sandra was also a leading force behind national satellite coaching programs, travelling more than 300 kilometres several times each week between 2003 and 2012 to support and develop young athletes. She further contributed through leadership roles as Chair of Selectors and Selector for Australian U17 and U19 Men’s Teams.

Sandra was recognised nationally through the Softball Australia Service Award and the Victorian Softball Association Merle Short Award, honouring her dedication to coaching, athlete development, and long-term service to the sport. Her outstanding service was also recognised with the Brimbank and Star North West Sports Award and her induction into the 2016 Brimbank Sports Awards Hall of Fame.

Outside softball, Sandra also made valuable contributions to the community through service roles within local parish and school organisations.

A Family Tradition of Sporting and Community Service

Sandra’s achievements are also part of a remarkable family tradition of sporting and community service. Her family’s contribution to softball and community sport spans multiple generations and includes international representation, administration, coaching, officiating, and athlete development.

·       A mother, Betty, who served as an international umpire and Association Secretary and was also inducted as an OAM recipient on the 8^th June 2026

·       A father who was a baseball and softball coach, administrator, Blind Bowls Australia Secretary for more than 25 years, and an OAM recipient

·       A sister who represented Victoria at National Championships

·       A brother who was an Association representative

·       A husband, Leigh Evans OAM, who is a national and international softball umpire and administrator

·       A daughter who achieved state, national, and international umpire accreditation and served as an Association representative

·       A son who represented both Victoria and Australia in softball

·       A son-in-law who represented both NSW and Victoria as a player

In a remarkable recognition of the family’s lifelong contribution to sport and community service, Sandra’s mother Betty will also receive the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for her services to softball, blind bowls, and the community.

Sandra’s recognition with the Medal of the Order of Australia reflects a lifetime of commitment, leadership, and service to Australian softball and the broader community. Her passion for the sport and the people within it has left a lasting impact that will continue to benefit future generations.

Betty McGuire OAM – Tribute and Media Summary

Softball Australia congratulates Betty McGuire on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for her outstanding service to softball, blind bowls, and the broader community.

Betty McGuire has dedicated nearly seventy years to advancing sport in Victoria, across Australia, and internationally through extraordinary service as a player, coach, umpire, administrator, mentor, organiser, and volunteer.

A foundation member of the Sunshine Women’s Softball Association in 1956, Betty played a major role in the development and growth of softball throughout Melbourne’s western region and across Victoria. Her contribution spanned administration, officiating, coaching, athlete development, school sport, women’s sport advocacy, and representative softball at state, national, and international levels.

Betty served as Secretary of the Sunshine Softball Association from 1959 until 2004 and represented the Association at Victorian State meetings for more than four decades. She was instrumental in the development of competitions, constitutions, regional structures, and participation pathways within softball.

Her umpiring achievements were extensive and distinguished. Betty officiated at 35 Victorian State Championships and eighteen Australian National Championships and achieved Australian and International Umpire accreditation, representing Australia internationally at the 1980 Mini World Series in Brisbane.

Major Sporting Contributions

·       1956 – Foundation member, Sunshine Women’s Softball Association

·       1959–2004 – Secretary, Sunshine Softball Association

·       1961–1992 – Representative umpire at 35 Victorian State Championships

·       1961–1987 – Umpired at eighteen Australian National Softball Championships

·       1976 – Achieved Australian Umpire Accreditation

·       1979 – Achieved International Umpire Accreditation

·       1980 – Represented Australia as an umpire at the Mini World Series in Brisbane

·       1981 – Officiated at the international challenge involving Canada, New Zealand, San Diego, and Chinese Taipei

·       1984–2003 – Organised National Blind Bowls Championships

·       2004–2007 – Manager, Australian Blind Bowls Team

·       1953–1978 – Scorer, Sunshine Baseball Club

Community and Volunteer Service

·       Organist and choir leader for local church communities

·       Advocate for women’s sport and instrumental in securing softball grounds in Sunshine

·       Coordinator and umpire for school softball programs

·       Mentor within youth clubs and community organisations

·       Pianist and accompanist for community groups and nursing homes

·       Volunteer service supporting schools and sporting organisations

Awards and Recognition

·       Life Member – Sunshine Softball Association

·       Life Member – Victorian Softball Association

·       Australian Sports Medal

·       Softball Australia Award – 40 Years Service to Umpiring

·       Merle Short Award – Softball Australia

·       City of Melbourne Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community

·       Blind Sports Australia Award for Excellence and Service

·       Recognition by Sunshine Baseball Club for Women in Sport

·       Softball Victoria Hall Of Fame 2026 inductee

A Family Tradition of Sporting and Community Service

Betty McGuire’s lifelong contribution to sport and community service is reflected through generations of family involvement in softball, baseball, officiating, coaching, and community leadership.

·       A husband who served as a baseball and softball coach, administrator, Blind Bowls Australia Secretary for more than 25 years, and OAM recipient

·       A daughter who represented her Association and Victoria as both a player and coach

·       A daughter, Sandra Evans OAM, who represented Victoria and Australia in softball and was also recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours

·       A son who was an Association representative

·       A son-in-law who became a state, national, and international softball umpire, administrator, and OAM recipient

·       A granddaughter who achieved state, national, and international umpire accreditation

·       A grandson who represented both Victoria and Australia in softball

·       A grandson-in-law who represented his Association and both NSW and Victoria as a player

Betty McGuire’s lifelong service across softball, blind bowls, baseball, and community organisations exemplifies the ideals honoured by the Order of Australia. Her dedication, humility, leadership, and commitment to volunteer service have left an enduring legacy within Australian sport and the wider community.

Softball Australia proudly congratulates Betty McGuire OAM and Sandra Evans OAM on their richly deserved honours.