Softball Queensland is deeply saddened by the passing of Alice Cullen OAM on Sunday 29 June 2025.

Alice was one of our pioneers who made a remarkable contribution to the growth and development of softball in Queensland and particularly in Redlands where her legacy remains for all to see.

Alice didn’t start her softball journey in Queensland. She first became involved in the game in 1964 in Darwin in the Northern Territory. Alice was a player with the Waratahs Club and a team statistician in the local competition.  In 1969, Alice moved to Katherine in the Northern Territory where she played and was a team statistician with the Eagles Club. She was also an umpire in the local competition. In addition to her club commitments, Alice was the President of the Katherine Softball Association in 1969 and during the time spent in Katherine, Alice developed the Katherine Softball Association.

1974 saw Alice move to Queensland. Alice’s first involvement in softball in Queensland was at school level where in 1974 she was responsible for introducing the game of softball to schools in the Redlands area. She coached the Cleveland Primary School Softball Team and in 1975, assisted with the entering of Redlands District Softball Teams in the State Primary School Softball Championship. Alice continued her association with school softball as the Cleveland Primary School Softball Team Coach until 1988 and also umpired school softball games at local and state level. In addition to her school softball commitments, Alice was the Coordinator for School Sport in the Redlands District and organized Redlands Schools Sports Days. Alice was also a Committee Member of the Queensland Primary School Sports Association. For her services to school sport in the Redlands area, Life Membership was conferred on Alice by the Redlands Primary Schools Sports Association.        

In 1976 Alice could see that there was no organized sport or sporting facilities for women in the Redlands area so her dream was to introduce softball to the women of Redlands. In June 1976 Alice organized five women’s softball teams to play trial games at the Cleveland Primary School grounds.  As a result of Alice’s actions and the success and popularity of the venture, it was decided to form an Association, the Redlands Women’s Softball Association and subsequently conduct a 1976/77 summer softball competition which commenced in October 1976.

Alice’s dream had become a reality, however, it was now time for this dream to be kept alive. For this to eventuate it was necessary for others with the same dream to come on board and work together to develop the Association and grow softball in the Redlands area. Twelve teams competed in the inaugural “official” season of the Association which was played at the Cleveland Showgrounds. Alice was tenacious and persevered until, after several meetings with the Redland Shire Council regarding the acquisition of home grounds, the Council gave an old farm to the Association. What followed then was a lot of strenuous work by Alice’s dedicated band of helpers and family members to develop the farmland into softball facilities in time for the competition to begin at Ormiston in October 1977.

Alice was involved in softball at club level initially with the Sundowners Softball Club, one of RWSA’s foundation clubs. Alice played, umpired, selected, coached and scored for junior and senior women’s club teams and was an administrator at club level. In 1988, she thought she’d hang up her boots and her involvement at club level. However, this was not what her family had in mind. Alice was on call and on numerous occasions assisted her family members, who also had club commitments within the Association.

Alice’s commitment did not stop at Club level. Alice was involved at District Association level. She was initially the Coordinator of the softball competition and the Vice President in 1976 and subsequently on five occasions 1977 – 1979, 1982 and 1983, the President of the Association, the Treasurer in 1981, a Management Committee Member in 1980 and from 1991 – 1995 and the Secretary of the Association in 2000.

In the early 1980’s and with three sons already involved, Alice saw the opportunity to continue the growth of softball with the introduction of men’s fixtures. In 1985, the RWSA became the Redlands Softball Association. Alice continued to serve RSA between 1990 – 2001 working on various Sub-Committees and was a member of the Association’s Judiciary Committee. In addition to these administrative roles, Alice worked in the canteen, umpired for the Association, selected teams and represented the Redlands Association at State Championships as a coach, team manager and statistician of junior women’s and senior men’s and women’s representative teams on numerous occasions.  Alice also organised and hosted various functions and events for the Association and was a member of the 25^th Anniversary Committee. To acknowledge RSA’s 25^th Anniversary and the years of growth and development, Alice coordinated the publication of a book to commemorate the 25^th Anniversary of the Redlands Softball Association. After seeing the Redlands Softball Association grow from humble beginnings in 1976 at the Cleveland Primary School to a first class facility and grounds at Ormiston in 2001, Alice’s dream was now realized. 2002 saw Alice step down from her District Association commitments.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution and service to the RWSA, Alice was the Association’s first member to receive Life Membership in 1980/81 and in 1996 the No 1 diamond at the RSA grounds at Ormiston, was named “The Alice Cullen Diamond”.  Alice had achieved something extraordinary and she very deservedly felt great pride as she looked out over the facility she had dreamt about. She saw this gesture as “a very special moment” in her life.

When masters softball became very popular in the early nineties in Queensland, Alice saw this as yet another challenge and returned to the diamond as a player with the local Redlands 45s team. As well as playing Alice took on other roles namely team administrator and statistician and in 2000 was a member of the Organising Committee for the Australian Masters Softball Championship Tournament which was hosted by the Redlands Softball Association.

In 1980 Alice became involved in softball at State level. She represented Queensland at National Championships as the Statistician for the Queensland Under 16 Girls Team in 1982, Team Administrator of the 1983 Queensland Under 16 Girls Team, Statistician for the 1988 Queensland Invitational Under 19 Boys Team and Team Administrator of the 1988 and 1989 Queensland Open Men’s Team.

Alice was so devoted to the game that in 1981 and 1982 she became involved in the administration of softball at State level when she was elected as a Management Committee Member and Assistant Treasurer. In 1985 she returned as a Management Committee Member and in 1987 she became the Association’s Secretary and an Executive Committee Member, positions she held until 1989. In 1988 and 1989, Alice was a member of the Scoring Committee and in 1988 was appointed as a Selector for the Queensland Under 19 Women’s Team. She returned to SQ in 1998 when she was appointed as a Judiciary Committee Member, a position she held until 2004. In 2004 she was appointed as a SQ Commissioner, responsible for investigating and dealing with any alleged breach of the Association’s Code of Conduct, a position she held until 2006.  

As well as being involved in softball, Alice had other interests, hockey and lawn bowls.  From 1966 – 1969 Alice played club hockey in Darwin and subsequently represented the Northern Territory as a player in a game against South Australia in 1968. In 1989 Alice became a playing member of the Redlands Bowls Club and in addition to playing, subsequently took on other roles. In 2002 and 2005 Alice was the Social Director on the Redlands Bowls Club Board, 2003 the Vice President of the Redlands Ladies Bowling Club and a Level 1 National Umpire, 2004 President of the Redlands Ladies Bowling Club and in 2006 a Level 1 National Coach.

Prior to her “softball life” Alice scored many local games of cricket in Brisbane from 1954 – 1964 and during this period of time she also scored for local baseball club teams namely Vogue, Ipswich Tigers and Windsor Royals and at a Claxton Shield National Baseball Tournament.

Very fittingly, Alice received numerous awards beginning with the Redlands Lions Club Harold Wallis Memorial Award in 1980 in recognition of her outstanding work for the youth of Redlands.

For her service to softball Alice received:

v  1989 SQ Service Award

v  2000 Australian Softball Federation Service Award

v  2000 Australian Sports Medal in 2000

v  2001 Australia Day Local Government (Redlands Shire) Award

v  2009, Alice was a finalist in the Queensland Sport Awards, Service to Sport category.

v  In 2024 SQ was delighted to have Alice at their annual awards dinner where she was awarded a SQ Lifetime Contribution to Softball in Queensland Award. It was a very special time for Alice and for those in attendance.

v  In recognition for her long, extensive and distinguished service, Alice received an Order of Australia Medal (O.A.M) in the 2011 Australia Day Honours for service to Sport & primarily to Softball.

Not many people have contributed so much for our sport. Alice’s dedication, commitment, vision and determination to bring actions to fruition demonstrates that she was a truly amazing lady.

Alice was passionate, particularly for Redland Softball but also for the sport as a whole. She had a deep sense of loyalty and was never afraid to speak her mind.

Throughout her life, Alice has touched the heart of many people and thousands she has never met enjoy the legacy she has left behind. Alice gave a lifetime to softball in Queensland. She dreamt big and passed down her gift to the sport and future generations.

Alice was deeply loved and will be dearly missed by her loving family and many friends. Softball Queensland extends our deepest condolences to Dennis, Dudley, Lyndon, Dorelle, Desiree, Deirdre and families.

Rest peacefully, Alice.