Life Membership of Baseball Victoria
Conferred on
Michael Gourlay and the late Richard Arthur (Dick) Mason OAM
Having called for nominations from Member Bodies for persons to be considered for Life Membership of Baseball Victoria, four nominations were received and from these four nominations the Board recommend to the Annual General Meeting held on 19 February 2018 that two persons have life membership conferred on them.
“Life Membership is the highest honour Baseball Victoria can confer on an individual.
The individual must have rendered distinguished service to baseball in Victoria over an extended period of time and such service must have assisted the advancement of baseball in Victoria.
While Club Service is taken into consideration individuals are awarded Life Membership where they have also contributed at a State and National level.
Congratulations to Michael Gourlay and the late Dick Mason who are now Life Members of Baseball Victoria, joining many greats of Victorian Baseball”. said Myles Foreman President of Baseball Victoria.
Michael Gourlay and the family of Dick Mason will be formally presented with Life Membership at the Annual Baseball Victoria Awards to be held on Thursday the 15th March 2018.
Michael Gourlay
Life Membership of Baseball Victoria was conferred on Michael Gourlay for distinguished service to baseball in Victoria.
Michael Gourlay is now a Life Member of Baseball Victoria in recognition of his outstanding services and commitment to Baseball at the Association and Club levels as an administrator, official and a scorer over the past 30 years.
Michael first got a “taste” of baseball when son’s Matthew and Stephen took up Tee Ball when it was first introduced in 1985 and immediately became an involved parent and quickly became a strong supporter of the Game.
The pavilion at Kingston Heath Reserve was built in 1986 and Michael took a position on the Kingston Heath Advisory Committee as Hall Secretary and occupied that position for 10 years.
Along the way Michael conducted scoring classes for the numerous junior team scorers - mostly mothers of junior team players, training dozens of new club scorers over the years.
Michael also served as Chairman of Selectors for several years during the 1990’s including during a difficult rebuilding period as the Club sought to expand its junior program. This role is one of the most demanding roles in any Club and it requires a special level of commitment and tactful maturity.
Michael was elected as a Life Member of the Cheltenham Baseball Club in 2010.
As Michael’s knowledge and interest in baseball continued to increase he was nominated for a position on the Victorian Baseball Association Pennant Committee and over a period of some 10 years moved on to become the Chairman of the Tribunal serving with distinction in that position for many more years.
Michael has also been involved at the Australian Baseball Federation assisting with the running of junior championships and has taken on the key role of Tournament Referee on many occasions.
Richard Arthur (Dick) Mason OAM 1938-1987
Life Membership of Baseball Victoria was conferred on the late Richard Arthur (Dick) Mason OAM for distinguished service to baseball in Victoria.
The late Dick Mason is now a Life Member of Baseball Victoria in recognition of his outstanding services and commitment to Baseball at the Association and Club levels as an administrator.
Dick Mason served on the Waverly Baseball Club Board for 12 years, he was head coach for three years and set in stone the Junior Development program that has been the corner stone of the club’s lasting success. He was an outstanding leader whose devotion to developing juniors was unwavering. Fittingly, the Monash Council has named a Diamond at Napier Park, the home of the Waverley Baseball Club, in his honour.
Making regular trips to the USA to further his knowledge of the latest coaching techniques, including several trips to Georgia Southern College, Dick always brought this knowledge back to Victorian Baseball. He excelled as a coach and spent seven years as the Victorian under 13 head coach winning four national titles.
A tangible record of Dick’s impact as coach is highlighted by the list of more than 50 players he helped mould into State junior and senior sides including Claxton Shield representatives and the many that made the Australian teams.
Dick also served for over 10 years on the Victorian Baseball Junior League committee.
He was instrumental in his role as a media commentator for introducing baseball to the ABC coverage and therefore exposing it to a wider audience. Dick promotion of baseball via television should not be understated. It opened up the sport to the previously uninitiated. At every opportunity in his capacity as a prominent media personality, Dick promoted baseball.
He was awarded Life Membership of Waverley Baseball Club in 1974.
He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to sport and radio.