It is with deep gratitude that we have the opportunity to share with you the extraordinary contribution that ‘our Aud’, Audrey Emma McLaughlin AM, made to softball, and to share an insight into the person many of us were fortunate enough to meet, came to know, respect and love.

Audrey is one of a very small number of people who have been continually involved with softball since its very early days up until her peaceful passing at age 93 years 9months, on 17 June 2025. She is possibly the longest serving volunteer our sport has ever had. Her love for the sport has spanned 77 years and the service she has given is indicative of her commitment and dedication across all levels from local teams to international, and in all capacities from player to administrator and enthusiastic spectator.

Audrey’s softball career is outlined below, but it is Audrey the person who we are truly honouring. She was amazing, not just in what she did and achieved, but in how she went about  this.

It is certainly a very daunting task to describe all of Audrey’s attributes, but we’ll ‘have a go’ and name a few.

Audrey was a very humble and quiet achiever, never seeking recognition nor reward, always selfless, loyal and fearless. She told us once in her quiet humorous way, that her eyes were either red & white, maroon & white or green & gold.

Whilst she took every role and position she held very seriously, she had a wonderful sense of humour and was a great story teller when you got her started. A notable yarn was had concerning Queensland’s first ever Gilley’s Shield win in 1963; the team had a five day train journey home from Perth giving them plenty of time to celebrate.

Audrey was the consummate professional. She was one of the very few people with the ability to separate her personal feelings from any situation, was unafraid to make decisions in what she believed was for the best interests of the sport. She knew where the boundaries were, pushed them at times, but never crossed or breached them. Her integrity was beyond reproach.

Audrey was honest and quietly spoke her mind. She was sharp, had a steel trap mind and the depth and breadth of her knowledge was astounding. She could be described as a walking encyclopaedia on all things softball. At the same time, she was generous with her time and giving of herself to anyone who wanted to know something or just ‘have a chat’.

She was a true friend with an immeasurable love for the game, its history and future. Softball Australia, Softball Queensland and Brisbane Softball are indebted to Audrey for her meticulous record keeping that enabled us to trace our history for posterity.

Change is hard for everyone and it was no different for Audrey. For almost 60 years in her role as an administrator she met those challenges with her calm manner, willingness to listen to others with understanding, empathy and optimism for the future.

Audrey embraced learning about new innovations in the various fields of sports science, sports medicine and technology and how these benefited the players, officials and spectators.

She understood that the players were the heart of the game and nothing gave her greater pleasure than watching these players grow up and achieve amazing results.

We remember Audrey as a highly respected inspirational leader, mentor, icon and friend. She is a SQI Legend and her legacy to us is the sport of softball in Queensland no matter where it is played or who is involved. We are very lucky to have had Audrey in our lives. We learnt so much just from being around her, listening to her and watching how she conducted herself.

Audrey: The Player

Two years after the official establishment of a softball committee to organise fixtures in Brisbane, Audrey first played softball in 1948 after being introduced to the game by her lifelong friend Betty Paxton OAM.

There were only five teams in the competition. Audrey played pitcher and 1^st base in one of the “Laurels” teams. As the game grew and clubs were formed, she went on to play in Red Devils, Giants and finally Brisbane Bears Club with good friend Daphne Hass OAM. As the sport grew, she proudly progressed through the ranks to represent both Brisbane and Queensland.

Her Queensland playing number is 31. She played in five National Championships between 1950 and 1956 and was Vice-Captain in 1955.

Audrey eventually retired from playing but at age 62 she returned when she teamed up again with Betty in the Bets Vets 45+ team competing in numerous masters’ competitions held throughout Australia.

Audrey: The Coach

On the diamond Audrey coached at all levels of the game. Beginning with Bears, Devils and Wolves club teams in the Brisbane Association, she continued with Bets Vets in the Redcliffe Association and at masters’ tournaments until she retired from the diamond at the age 88 in 2019.

She coached Brisbane representative teams for 20 years. She is Queensland’s longest serving coach, this being for a period of 21 years between 1958 and 1980 and winning four Gilley’s Shields. In 2018, the SQ Coach of the Year Award was named in Audrey’s honour.

One of Audrey’s greatest coaching achievements was her appointment as Assistant Coach for the Australian Women’s Team which won the inaugural Women’s World Championship in 1965. Her wild cheering at the conclusion of the game showed a very different side of the Audrey she usually displayed in public.

In 1980, following 7 years as Australia’s Assistant Coach, Audrey was appointed head coach of the Australian Women’s team for the Mini World Series held at Downey Park, Brisbane.

Off the diamond Audrey, together with other state coaches in 1981, began the enormous task of writing the curriculum for softball coaching under the newly established Australian Sports Commission’s National Coaching Accreditation Scheme.

Audrey was a key presenter and lecturer of coaching courses over the following decade. She was also a SQ Coaching Committee member (1979-82 & 1977/78), Chair in 1982/83 and Director in 1983/84. At the national level, Audrey was Australian Coaching Director from 1981 to 1983.

In recognition of her contribution to coaching excellence, The Confederation of Australian Sport awarded Audrey the coveted Eunice Gill Memorial Award for coach development in 1998.

Audrey: The Administrator

In 1949, a year after she started playing, Audrey took on her first administrative role as Secretary of the committee responsible for organising the regular fixtures. This committee was the first iteration of Softball Queensland Inc.

For an extraordinary 56 consecutive years Audrey held Executive (President, Vice President, Secretary) and administration positions on the Metropolitan Delegate Committee (1955-1965) - Brisbane Softball Association (1965-1979), Softball Queensland (1949-1986) and Softball Australia (1984-2005).

In addition to serving on the above Management Committees and Boards, Audrey was also a chairperson or general member on numerous sub-committees at all levels from fixtures & grading to Constitution & By-Laws, grounds and high performance to name just a few.

At the international level, Audrey was the Australian Delegate at the ISF Congress for 7 years between 1987 and 2003 and the Australian Head of Delegation to 15 World Championships between 1994 and 2003.

Following her retirement from the Softball Australia Board, Audrey continued her extraordinary service to softball as a member of the SA History and Recognition Committee until 2019. She also assisted the SQI Awards Panel from establishment in 1996 to 2024.

Audrey: The Umpire

Like many softball people, Audrey began umpiring whilst also continuing her player, coach, scorer and administrator roles. She was Chairperson and member of the Metropolitan, later to be known as the Brisbane Umpiring Committee, for 12 years from 1961. She assisted with the development of umpires at the State level and held the position of Australian Deputy Umpire in Chief between 1968 and 1979. In 1979, Audrey attained her International Softball Federation Umpiring Accreditation, Cap No 96.

Audrey: The Selector

Audrey selected Brisbane A Grade Women’s representative teams for 28 years between 1953 and 1981.

At state level, she was a member of the selection panel for the Queensland Open Women’s Team for 33 years until 1990. She also selected Queensland Under 16 Girls teams (1969-1972), Under 19 Women’s teams (1994/95-1995/96) and Under 19 Men’s teams (1988-1992).

At the national level, Audrey was an Australian team selector 1987-1992, followed by her appointment as the Chair/Convenor of Selectors/Selector for Australian Representative Teams and Squads from 1993 – 2006.

Audrey: Queensland Team Manager/Administrator and Statistician

When she wasn’t representing her State as a player, coach or umpire, Audrey fulfilled official positions for the Queensland Women’s team when she was appointed as the manager/administrator in 1960, 1961 and 1986 and statistician in 1954, 1960 and 1961.

Audrey: Queensland Softball Headquarters

In 1979 Audrey took on another role as a Director on the Board of the Queensland Softball Headquarters Ltd. This company, set up by a group of dedicated softball supporters, was responsible for the building of the first international standard softball diamond in Australia and subsequently a softball complex with clubhouse and grandstand. The diamond was built at Downey Park in Brisbane and in 1980 was the venue for the Australian Senior Women’s Championship and Mini World Series.

Audrey displayed many new skills during this time spending numerous hours shovelling dirt, carrying bricks, spreading dolomite, etcetera – you name it. Audrey was not afraid to get her hands dirty and do it.

After completion of the complex, a club, known as the Queensland Softball Club, later named the Downey Park Sports Club, was established. Audrey was appointed to the first Management Committee and became the inaugural President. The softball complex is now the home of Brisbane Softball Association.

Audrey: Awards and Recognition

Fittingly and very deserving, Audrey has been recognised for her service, dedication and achievements. In addition to those mentioned previously, she received the following awards:

Order of Australia Medal (AM) in 1999

Life Membership: 1957 Softball Queensland; 1967 Softball Australia; 1977/78 Brisbane Softball

Hall of Fame: 1985 Softball Australia; 1999 International Softball Federation; 2021 Softball Queensland; 2022 Queensland Sport Hall of Fame

Service to Sport: 2008 Queensland Government Sport & Recreation Volunteer Medal; 2008 Womensport Queensland Contribution to Sport Award; 2020 Queensland Sport Service to Sport Award

Other: 1999 Year of the Older Person Award; 2000 Australian Sports Medal; 2012 inducted as a SQI Legend.

Audrey epitomised the true meaning of service. We, her softball family and community across Australia, are forever in her debt. She will remain in our hearts and in the history of softball for all time.

Our heartfelt, sincere condolences are offered to Jeff, Gil, Trent and their families for your profound loss.

Audrey Emma McLaughlin AM

5 September 1931 – 17 June 2025

Rest In Peace