Following Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcements this afternoon on the lockdown of COVID-19 hotspots, Baseball Victoria has consulted with VIC Sport and Sport and Recreation Victoria to confirm how these restrictions will impact baseball.
Stage three restrictions will go into effect in 10 postcode areas (see below for a list of postcodes) from 11.59 PM on Wednesday, 1 July 2020 and remain in place through at least Wednesday, 29 July 2020.
Baseball Victoria confirms that no members who live in these postcodes will be allowed to attend any Baseball Victoria training, clubs, committee meeting or events.
Residents in these lockdown postcodes will only be permitted to leave home for four reasons: food and supplies, medical and caregiving, exercise and work and education if it can't be done from home. Organised club training is considered community sport, not exercise, and therefore if you reside in a lockdown postcode, you cannot leave that postcode to attend training in another suburb.
While the restrictions come into effect from tomorrow night, Baseball Victoria strongly recommends participants in these postcodes do not attend club training on Wednesday afternoon/evening.
Baseball Victoria notes that there is not currently a baseball club located in one of the lockdown suburbs, although there are several clubs that are in the areas surrounding these suburbs and they may consider if they will continue to hold their scheduled training sessions.
Those people whom reside in the lockdown postcodes and whom have registered to train will receive an email directly confirming they are not permitted to attend training. Each club will be provided with a listing of those people whom are not permitted to attend training.
Any member that updates their postcode from a current lockdown postcode to another postcode will be required to provide proof of residence. In addition, any returning member whom updates their postcode from a previous registration to a new postcode which is no longer in a lockdown postcode will also need to provide proof of residence, as will any new members to baseball.
These updated restrictions will affect the Continued Activity for several clubs and associations and may result in changes to the previously published dates on training, junior competitions and a return to senior full contact training and competition.
Baseball Victoria will continue to work with the Winter Associations and Winter Clubs to determine what these changes mean for the winter season, acknowledging that updates continue to occur regularly.
The information contained here applies as at 9:00 PM on Tuesday, 30 June 2020 to the following postcodes:
3012: Brooklyn, Kingsville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray
3021: Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans
3032: Ascot Vale, Highpoint City, Maribyrnong, Travancore
3038: Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lake, Watergardens
3042: Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie
3046: Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park
3047: Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana
3055: Brunswick South, Brunswick West, Moonee Vale, Moreland West
3060: Fawkner
3064: Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park, Kalkallo
“The fight against COVID-19 is not over, and our community needs to remain vigilant to keep everyone safe and healthy,” Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton said. “As this situation continues to evolve, Baseball Victoria will work through the impact this has on the winter season, and determine any further updates or changes as required.”
Following on from previous announcements, Winter Associations will provide further details on their senior and junior programs via their communication channels. Click HERE to view Winter Association details.
Baseball Victoria continues to liaise with the Victorian Summer Baseball League Clubs to confirm the commencement dates and details for summer baseball.
Members are reminded that to Return to Activity you must register – click HERE to select your club from the Baseball Victoria Website and complete your registration.
The Baseball Victoria COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions have been updated – click HERE to review the changes.
Baseball Victoria will update the Return to Activity/Play Plan to assist baseball clubs throughout this transition. Click HERE to view the current guidelines and other club resources.
In addition, we have our Ramp Up to Play: Drills and Exercises Program on our website and BV TV YouTube channel to prepare athletes for a return to activity and play.
If you have any questions please contact Baseball Victoria, with full contact details available HERE.
As a reminder, the COVIDSafe app is now available and will allow authorities to quickly track and control the spread of COVID-19. Please consider downloading the app to help save lives, protect the community and get baseball back as soon as possible. Click HERE to learn more.
For up-to-date information on keeping your family safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website HERE.
All further updates from Baseball Victoria will be available on the Baseball Victoria website and will also be communicated by the Baseball Victoria social media channels.
Baseball Victoria is working through the latest COVID-19 restrictions announced by the Victorian Government this afternoon, and we will provide an update later this evening. Thank you.
Westgarth Baseball Club is honouring club legend and life member Roy Bartlett on his 100th birthday on Saturday, 27 June 2020.
Roy is a beloved figure at Westgarth, having contributed 75 years of active volunteering, including an incredible run of 57 years as Club Treasurer. Since his debut in 1945, he played more than 300 games over 28 seasons with nine premierships under his belt. His efforts earned him life membership at the club in 1975.
Roy took up coaching the club when it reformed after World War II, leading the team to premiership glory in its first year back. That was just the start of his significant contributions to Westgarth, and the club batting trophy was eventually renamed the Roy Bartlett Trophy in 2009.
Baseball is a family affair for the Bartlett family, with the notable coach, player and committee member encouraging his son and grandson to get involved too. The entire club community is thrilled to have such a strong supporter in Roy.
“The club wouldn’t be here without him. There were three founding fathers of the club in Roy and the late Don Gough and Richard Legge,” Current Westgarth Club President Dean Perry said. “We’re very grateful of his contributions and the fact he’s still around is incredible. Roy has been coming to baseball every Saturday home game for as long as I’ve been at the club. Last year he threw out first pitch in the club’s heritage game against Melbourne Uni on his 99th birthday.”
Baseball Victoria joins Westgarth Baseball Club in wishing Roy a very happy birthday and thanking him for his tireless commitment and dedication to Victorian club baseball.
Baseball Victoria has signed up to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood’s Teams program, joining Essendon, Werribee and Heathmont Baseball clubs to save lives through blood donation. Blood and plasma donations save thousands of lives every year and make a huge difference to those who desperately need it to survive.
Lifeblood recently celebrated National Blood Donor Week (14-20 June) thanking around half a million donors for their 1.5 million blood donations given last year.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic Lifeblood said they were extremely grateful to Australians who have rolled up their sleeves in record numbers over the last few months to ensure patients across the country have access to the blood and blood products they require. While 2020 has turned out to be very different from previous years, the need for blood remains every day of the year.
Blood donation was deemed an essential service by the Australian Government during strict stay at home measures earlier this year, with donors continuing to roll up their sleeves and save lives. This month, donors can get involved in a meaningful cause while practicing safe social distancing, which remains important as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
“Australia still needs 29,000 donations every week, and while we can’t play baseball quite yet, we are able to return to training and come together as a community to donate blood,” Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton said. “Lifeblood has strict safety measures in place, and we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 restrictions to maintain a safe and healthy baseball community.”
Essendon Baseball Club and Werribee Baseball Club are both signed up to Lifeblood Teams. Essendon registered 108 donations in 2019, saving 324 lives, with 54 donations and 168 lives saved so far in 2020. Werribee had 14 donations registered in 2019 to save 42 lives, while this year to date there has been 10 donations to save 30 lives. Heathmont Baseball Club has registered eight donations, saving 24 lives.
Please join Baseball Victoria in giving back by donating blood. Click HERE to sign up today and join the Baseball Victoria Lifeblood Team as we look to reach 100 donations this year.
Please click HERE to learn more about Lifeblood’s extra safety measures to ensure the health and wellbeing of donors.
Following the updates to COVID-19 restrictions announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Saturday, 20 June 2020, Baseball Victoria has been working with our sporting colleagues, VIC Sport and Sport & Recreation Victoria, to qualify several aspects of the government announcements. There is additional information that has been provided today, Wednesday 24 June 2020.
The Victorian Government has now clarified that some aspects of community sport were allowed to return beginning from 11:59 PM on Sunday, 21 June, including:
- Monday, 22 June through Sunday, 12 July 2020
- Adults will continue to train in groups of 20 people plus two coaching staff, while maintaining social distancing and non-contact training (i.e. there can be two groups of 20 people training at the same time, plus their coaching staff);
- Juniors will be able to recommence full contact training and competition;
- Batting cages and indoor facilities can be used in groups no more than 20, subject to the square meterage rules;
- Changerooms and facilities can be used while maintaining social distancing and can have no more than 20 people.
This clarification of 20 people per group returns to the restrictions that we had in place last week, allowing us to continue full training in anticipation of a return to full contact senior training and competition.
The Sport and Recreation Victoria website has also been updated today to note:
- From mid-July – subject to the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and the continued management of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), adults can resume full-contact training from 13 July and full-contact competition from 20 July.
Baseball Victoria will continue to work with the Winter Associations and Clubs to prepare for a recommencement of the winter seasons based on these tentative dates, acknowledging that these dates are fluid and updates continue to occur daily.
Following on from the previous announcements, Junior Winter Competition details are currently being finalised by the Winter Associations and will be updated via their communication channels. Click HERE to view Winter Association details.
Baseball Victoria continues to liaise with the Victorian Summer Baseball League Clubs to confirm the commencement dates and details for summer baseball.
Members are reminded that to Return to Activity you must register – click HERE to select your club from the Baseball Victoria Website and complete your registration.
The Baseball Victoria COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions have been updated – click HERE to review the changes.
Baseball Victoria will update the Return to Activity/Play Plan to assist baseball clubs throughout this transition. Click HERE to view the current guidelines and other club resources.
In addition, we have our Ramp Up to Play: Drills and Exercises Program on our website and BV TV YouTube channel to prepare athletes for a return to activity and play.
If you have any questions please contact Baseball Victoria, with full contact details available HERE.
As a reminder, the COVIDSafe app is now available and will allow authorities to quickly track and control the spread of COVID-19. Please consider downloading the app to help save lives, protect the community and get baseball back as soon as possible. Click HERE to learn more.
For up-to-date information on keeping your family safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website HERE.
All further updates from Baseball Victoria will be available on the Baseball Victoria website and will also be communicated by the Baseball Victoria social media channels.
Following the changes to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Saturday, 20 June 2020, Baseball Victoria is pleased to confirm the resumption of all junior baseball competitions and continued activity for senior players – albeit with additional restrictions.
The Victorian Government has allowed some aspects of community sport to return beginning from 11:59 PM on Sunday, 21 June, which includes:
- Monday, 22 June through Sunday, 12 July 2020
- Adults will continue to train in groups, REDUCED FROM 20 people to 10 per group plus two coaching staff, while maintaining social distancing and non-contact training (i.e. there can be two groups of ten people training at the same time, plus their coaching staff);
- Juniors will be able to recommence full contact training and competition;
- Batting cages and indoor facilities can be used in groups no more than 10;
- Changerooms and facilities can be used while maintaining social distancing and can have no more than 20 people (less dependent upon the size of the facilities);
- Canteens will be set to reopen with the commencement of junior competition, applying all the necessary space and food handling requirements.
Baseball Victoria and the Winter Baseball Associations are working together to confirm how and when junior seasons would commence, along with continuing discussions and options for senior competition.
Senior training must remain as non-contact in groups of 10, with no more than 20 on a single field, maintaining all social distancing and hygiene requirements. The Victorian Government continues to review this particular restriction, which moves back to the earliest Return to Activity training format that commenced on Monday, 25 May 2020. Baseball Victoria will be able to confirm in the coming days if and when training will return to the larger group format.
At this stage, the return dates for senior full contact training and competition are unconfirmed, previous dates published by your Winter Associations are likely incorrect in light of the Victorian Government changes this past weekend.
“This is a fluid situation as Australia continues to adjust to life with COVID-19. The safety of our Victorian baseball community is our top priority, and that’s why we are committed to adapting to all the requirements and restrictions as a result of this changing landscape,” Baseball Victoria President Myles Foreman said. “We continue to update our documents and all of our changes are available on our website. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our community and we look forward to getting back to baseball as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
Clubs will be provided with an updated Continued Activity/Return to Play Plan (Version 3A) and the Club Templates for Training Attendance for seniors have been edited to accommodate 10 people (two groups where necessary), with a separate Template for Training attendance for juniors now that they can return to full training.
Members are reminded that to Return to Activity you must register – click HERE to select your club from the Baseball Victoria Website and complete your registration.
The Baseball Victoria COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions have been updated – click HERE to review the changes.
Baseball Victoria will provide an updated Return to Activity/Play Plan (Version 3A) to assist baseball clubs throughout this transition. Click HERE to view the current guidelines and other club resources.
In addition, we have our Ramp Up to Play: Drills and Exercises Program on our website and BV TV YouTube channel to prepare athletes for a return to activity and play.
If you have any questions please contact Baseball Victoria, with full contact details available HERE.
As a reminder, the COVIDSafe app is now available and will allow authorities to quickly track and control the spread of COVID-19. Please consider downloading the app to help save lives, protect the community and get baseball back as soon as possible. Click HERE to learn more.
For up-to-date information on keeping your family safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website HERE.
All further updates from Baseball Victoria will be available on the Baseball Victoria website and will also be communicated by the Baseball Victoria social media channels.
Baseball Victoria was just minutes away from releasing the latest update to our Continued Activity/Return to Activity Plan when Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced changes to statewide restrictions. Following this afternoon’s press conference, we are evaluating these changes and will take the latest government and health advice into consideration as we make any necessary updates to our announcements. Thank you for your patience and we look forward to confirming details for our Victorian baseball community as soon as possible.
Until then, stay safe baseballers!
Please note training scheduled for tomorrow may proceed under the current restrictions.
Billie Pidwell, life member of the former Glenhuntly Baseball Club and long-time member of Ormond Glenhuntly Baseball Club, was named a recipient of the Order of Australia (OAM) “for services to sport, particularly to baseball.”
The Governor-General announced the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List on Monday, 8 June, recognising outstanding contributors with the Order of Australia, including the historical baseball icon.
The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement. Pidwell has a long history of involvement with the grassroots sporting community, starting when he joined Glenhuntly in 1949 as a 13-year-old junior player. By 1954, at the age of 18, he had taken his commitment to the next level, serving the club off the field as Honorary Assistant Secretary and the Minor League Delegate to the VBA.
Pidwell was appointed Glenhuntly Club Secretary in 1957, Treasurer in 1958 and Club Coach in 1962. He became president of Glenhuntly in 1963 and returned to the post of Treasurer once more in 1965, when he was also awarded Life Membership and Club Champion. In addition to his valuable contributions on the committee level, Pidwell was a passionate player on the field. In 1956 and 1957 he represented Victoria and played for the Heinz Hornets in a night baseball series at the old South Melbourne football ground.
Pidwell won Glenhuntly’s Batting Champion Award in 1967 and played his last game for Glenhuntly at the start of the 1970 winter season, just before the amalgamation with Ormond occurred. He returned to baseball in 1974, playing and coaching several winter teams at Ormond Glenhuntly up until 1978. He was part of the resurrection committee in 1979, working to ensure a bright future for the club, where he would coach for the next two summer seasons.
Pidwell served as President of Ormond Glenhuntly from 1982 to 1990 and was a driving force in bringing the club back from near extinction. During this time, he also served as treasurer of the Dandenong Baseball Association and was on the Board of the VBA Executives.
In 2002, Pidwell played in the World Masters Games in Geelong and even pitched in one game upon the insistence of the umpire who knew him well. In 2003 and 2005, he coached the Ormond Glenhuntly Masters Teams at the Australian Masters Games in Canberra and Adelaide, winning a bronze and gold medal respectively.
In October 2018, Bill was awarded Legend Status with the Ormond Glenhuntly Baseball Club following 70 years of outstanding service. Pidwell took part in softball too and is a life member at Glen Waverley Softball Club, where he served as President, Coach and Treasurer.
“He’s a gentleman through and through would do anything for anybody,” Allan Carter, Ormond Glenhuntly Life Member, said. “He promoted sport all the time, he’s an exceptional sporting person and human being.”
Pidwell feels privileged to achieve this prestigious recognition after being so involved in local sport. “I was very surprised when it first was mentioned because I wasn’t aware that I had been nominated. When I got that information, I was quite chuffed about the whole idea and very pleased to be given the opportunity to accept the award nomination,” Pidwell said. “It’s very humbling to get recognition for those years I enjoyed tremendously. It was never a hardship, I just enjoyed being involved at that level at the time. I played against some of the best players and made some good friendships over the years, and I’m still very much involved in the club level.”
Baseball Victoria congratulates Pidwell on this accomplishment.
In accordance with the updated Victorian State Government easing of COVID-19 restrictions, Baseball Victoria confirms that as at 10:00 AM on Monday, 1 June 2020, the number of people allowed at a baseball activity has increased from 10 athletes to 20 athletes.
Further to the alternation of the shutdown timelines that enabled Baseball Victoria’s Return to Activity on Monday, 25 May 2020, these changes allow training to expand with additional athletes as all of the social distancing rules remain in effect.
Clubs have been provided with an updated Return to Activity/ Play Plan and the Club Templates for Training Attendance have been updated to allow for 20 athletes.
Clubs that Return to Activity, whom have not done so, must provide the Return to Activity Club Checklist before training commences.
Updated restrictions now in effect as of Monday, 1 June 2020 at 10:00 AM are as follows:
- Training is extended to 20 athletes and two coaching staff per training session.
- The use of clubrooms, changerooms, showers and covered batting cages are not allowed. The only indoor club facilities that may be used are toilets.
- Clubs need to continue with the application of hygiene measures to return to on-field training.
- All clubs must adhere to the maximum of 20 athletes and two coaching staff per training group.
- There can be two groups of 20 athletes on the field, one in the diamond and one in the outfield with approximately 20 metres in between them.
- Each group may have 20 athletes with two coaching staff; the groups are able to swap positions on the field, but they must remain in the original groups of 20 athletes.
- Groundskeepers, parents and other club members may not be on the field during training, otherwise they will count toward the maximum number of people.
- All athletes and coaches must use hand sanitiser before, during and after training. Hand sanitiser must be reapplied every 20 minutes during training.
- Clubs will only have access to the field and toilets. Parents will be able to attend training with children in limited numbers while maintaining social distancing.
- All training will be conducted so that there is no personal contact and appropriate space between participants.
- All players, coaches and committee members need to register with SportsTG to Return to Activity. Click HERE for Winter Return to Activity Registration by club.
- Non-essential baseball activity other than training in groups of up to 20 people is still restricted. Committee meetings and non-essential gatherings are not permitted.
- We have prepared a list of frequently asked questions in relation to this kind of training. Click HERE for the list of frequently asked questions.
Baseball Victoria will continue to review how long these training options will be available before we return to competition play, and we are working with the winter associations to establish how the winter season could be moved into shorter timeframes and what the associated costs would be.
Baseball Victoria will continue to monitor the situation and consult with State and Federal Governments and our state and territory counterparts to establish the safest strategy for returning to baseball play.
Members are reminded that to Return to Activity you must register – click HERE to select your club from the Baseball Victoria Website and complete your registration.
The Baseball Victoria COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions have been updated – click HERE to review the changes.
Baseball Victoria has also updated the Return to Activity/Play Plan to assist baseball clubs throughout this transition. Click HERE to view the guidelines and other club resources.
In addition, we have our Ramp Up to Play: Drills and Exercises Program on our website and BV TV YouTube channel to prepare athletes for a return to activity and play.
If you have any questions please contact Baseball Victoria, with full contact details available HERE.
As a reminder, the COVIDSafe app is now available and will allow authorities to quickly track and control the spread of COVID-19. Please consider downloading the app to help save lives, protect the community and get baseball back as soon as possible. Click HERE to learn more.
For up-to-date information on keeping your family safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website HERE.
All further updates from Baseball Victoria will be available on the Baseball Victoria website and will also be communicated by the Baseball Victoria social media channels.