Baseball Victoria
Years of Service Award
Awarded to Leslie Flower
(Victorian Baseball Association Life Member 2002)
Speech delivered by Myles Foreman, President Baseball Victoria
VIVA 2018 Baseball Victoria Awards 15 March 2018
“Leslie Flower, started his lifelong involvement with Victorian Baseball in the early 1960’s as a 16-year-old playing for the Williamstown Baseball Club.
By the time he retired as a player he had played over 760 senior games for the club in summer, winter and masters teams.
He played many positions including Catcher, Short Stop and Pitcher. It was pitching in the early 1970s where he really excelled, twice winning the prestigious Williamstown Baseball Club Thompson Trophy for the best player in the club.
Les was known for his fierce curve ball and had no fear of throwing it on a full count. Known for wearing the number 16 uniform, Les gave that number up for the new comer. He then took number 40 which is the first player number in the 110 years of the Williamstown Baseball Club’s history to have been retired.
Off the field, Les continued his lifelong involvement with baseball on the administration side at Club State and National level.
For Williamstown, Les was known for his endless efforts and contribution to the development of players of all ages and skill levels and for the competition of the game in general.
The honor boards inside the club rooms list his name no fewer than 19 times, President for 5 years, Secretary for 3, and Treasurer for 11 years.
During this time Les was awarded the Victorian Sports Manager of the year, which continues to be a major recognition for his accomplishments as an administrator.
Les’ career as a State administrator started when he applied for the role of Executive Director for the Victorian Baseball Association under Peter Dihm.
Despite the precarious position the association was in at the time, Les took to the job and so began his long-standing career, commitment and lasting contributions to the Victorian Baseball Association which ultimately transitioned into Baseball Victoria.
While in the role, Les built great relationships with the State Government which enabled the organization to apply for and obtain significant grants during his time.
For example, this enabled the organization to host the World AA (16 and under) World Championships in 1991.
When the Australian Baseball Federation was looking for an Executive Director, it was Les who volunteered to take on the role.
As the Victorian baseball organization grew in the 90’s and participation numbers were rising, Les was right there overseeing it all.
Through Les’ leadership Baseball gained entry into the Victorian Institute of Sport program. We talk much about inclusion today but it was Les who implemented the Women’s Program in the 1990’s and helped the member clubs develop those programs ultimately being recognized with a Silver Prime Ministers award for the women’s program.
Another success of Les was the development of the Geelong Baseball Centre by the Geelong region advisory board. Les was and continues to be a great supporter of Regional Baseball having provided many opportunities for country kids, clubs and associations.
Les held the position of Executive Director / CEO for eleven years. He was fundamental in the expansion and growth of the sport here in Victoria.
The VBA was able to expand its development and admin roles under Les’s oversight. In his office Les had the mythical white board which was the map for the future of the sport in Victoria.
Our current CEO Justin Huber like so many has been influenced by Les, he is also a white board man and will cover every wall of the new Baseball Victoria office at the Ballpark with white boards. Les became the “go to” state administrator in Australia due to his down to earth approach and understanding of the needs of the sport.
After Les left his position as Executive Director/CEO he took over the oversight of the VBA/BV accounts and has been involved on a part time bases in various roles ever since, quietly in the background making major contributions to the betterment of our sport.
It is clear to us all through personal experience that Les is very passionate about our great sport and has a great sense of duty and right.
Les has always believed that it is a privilege to be involved in our sport and that everything we do must be for the good of the sport; not the individual. Les has endeared himself to all he has dealt with, building credibility with our members at all levels.
And now over 50 years after that 16-year-old first became involved in baseball Les has decided to hang up the abacuses and hand over the accounting duties.
Have no fear ……Les it not departing Baseball Victoria completely he will always be welcome at Baseball Victoria and around our community continuing in various roles quietly ensuring our sport continues to function.
In the time allotted I have only scratched the surface and highlighted some of Leslie Flower’s many and lasting contributions to our sport. From field maintenance, scores, stats, accounting, finance, CEO duties, events, you name it, Les did it.
We would like to make a special thank you to Gail, Les’ wife, for providing the photos and many newspaper articles and awards about Les.
Now if I could ask Peter Dihm who was President of the Victorian Baseball Association from 1990 to 2009 and worked closely with Les while he served as Executive Director from 1990 to 2002 to join me on stage to help present Les with this award.
Few in the over 125 years of our sport in Victoria have contributed as much as Les. We thank you Les for everything you have done for Baseball over the years. We thank you for your lifetime of service. Your legacy in Victorian Baseball will live on for years to come and you will always be a very valued member of the Victorian Baseball Community.
Leslie Flower, could you please come to the stage to collect the first ever Years of Service Award.”