The Mark Jeppesen Award - Lifetime Contribution to Softball in Queensland

This award specifically recognises the ongoing legacy an individual leaves on the sport demonstrated through their significant and meritorious contribution to the development of softball in Queensland.

In 2026, the recipient of this prestigious award is Joyce Lester OAM.

While Joyce’s playing career is legendary, her coaching, mentoring, selection leadership, and long term commitment to athlete development have had the most profound and lasting impact on the Queensland softball community.

Joyce Lester’s coaching career has shaped the technical, tactical, and cultural foundations of softball in Queensland for more than three decades. Her influence extends across grassroots, state, national, and international levels, and her work has directly strengthened Queensland’s high performance pathways.

High Performance Coaching Roles
• Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Regional Softball Coach (1998) Joyce played a pivotal role in the early development of Queensland’s high performance system. Her work with QAS athletes focused on advanced skill acquisition, game intelligence, and leadership development — elements that continue to underpin Queensland’s success today.
• Professional Coaching in Japan (post 1996) After the 1996 Olympic Games, Joyce coached professionally in Japan, bringing back world class training methodologies, discipline standards, and tactical innovations that elevated Queensland’s coaching landscape.
• Elite Athlete Mentorship Joyce has mentored countless athletes across Queensland and Far North Queensland, many of whom progressed to represent Queensland and Australia at junior and senior levels. Her commitment to developing the next generation of athletes in FNQ has created lasting pathways for regional players to achieve success at elite levels. Her ability to identify talent, refine technique, and build athlete confidence has been a cornerstone of Queensland’s sustained national competitiveness.
• Technical Specialist Coaching Joyce is widely regarded for her expertise in hitting, infield strategy, and game management. She has delivered specialist clinics, state squad sessions, and targeted development programs that have directly improved Queensland’s competitive performance.

Coaching Philosophy & Impact
Joyce’s coaching philosophy is grounded in:
• athlete centred development
• disciplined skill progression
• tactical clarity
• leadership cultivation
• respect for the game and its values
Her approach has influenced not only athletes, but also the coaching community. Many current Queensland coaches credit Joyce as a foundational mentor whose guidance shaped their own coaching careers.
Her coaching legacy is visible in:
• the technical standard of Queensland athletes
• the professionalism of state programs
• the strength of Queensland’s junior pathways
• the culture of excellence and respect that defines the sport in the state
• the development and advancement of young athletes from Far North Queensland into State and National representative pathways

Significant Contribution: Selector Roles
Joyce has played a critical role in shaping Queensland’s representative programs through her work as a state and national selector. Her selection leadership has ensured fairness, transparency, and the identification of athletes with both performance potential and long term development capacity.
Key Selector Contributions
• State Team Selector across multiple age groups, including junior and open women’s programs
• National Selection Influence through her long tenure as Australian captain and later involvement in national development structures
• Talent Identification at state championships, national championships, and development camps
• Pathway Alignment, ensuring Queensland athletes were prepared for national expectations
• Mentoring new selectors, strengthening the integrity and consistency of the selection process

Joyce’s deep understanding of the game, combined with her ability to evaluate both skill and character, has contributed to Queensland’s reputation for producing strong, well prepared representative athletes.

Leadership and Service to Softball Queensland
Beyond coaching and selection, Joyce has contributed significantly to the governance and strategic direction of softball.
Her leadership roles include:
• Softball Australia Board Member
• International Softball Federation Athletes Commission Member
• Advocate for volunteer development and recognition
• Community leader and ambassador, promoting softball across Queensland and Australia and initiatives including the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games, where she has helped showcase the sport, encourage participation, and strengthen softball’s visibility within the wider community.

Her leadership has strengthened the systems, policies, and culture that support the sport’s long term sustainability.

Supporting Contribution: Playing Career (Context for Coaching Excellence)
Joyce’s playing career provides the foundation for her coaching authority and technical expertise.
Highlights include:
• 21 years representing Queensland (1975–1996)
• Queensland captain from 1983, leading the state to eight Gilleys Shield titles
• 235 international games for Australia (1977–1996)
• Australian Women’s National Team Captain (1985–1996)
• Bronze medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
• World All Star Team selection (1986, 1989)
These achievements underpin her credibility as one of the most knowledgeable and respected coaches in the sport.

Honours and Recognition
Joyce’s contribution has been recognised through:
• Order of Australia Medal (OAM)
• Softball Australia Hall of Fame
• World Softball Hall of Fame
• Queensland Softball Hall of Fame

These honours reflect her standing as one of the most influential figures in the history of Australian softball.

Joyce Lester, OAM, has made an extraordinary contribution to softball in Queensland — not only as an elite athlete, but more importantly as a coach, selector, mentor, leader, and developer of people. Her influence continues to shape the sport’s culture, pathways, and future.

More on Joyce contribution to Softball in Queensland here