The Parliamentary Friends of Softball & Baseball is a new parliamentary group which formed and confirmed by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mr Jonathan O’Dea on March 25. During this meeting, the Member for Blacktown Mr Stephen Bali and Member for Coffs Harbour Mr Gurmesh Singh were elected as the inaugural Co-Chairs.

On Wednesday 12^th May Softball NSW and Baseball NSW launched the inaugural Parliamentary Friends of Softball & Baseball. The event hosted members of the NSW Parliament, staff and SNSW Board and Athletes.

The entire contingent was welcomed by the Deputy Premier John Barilaro” When you think about what is happening globally, we are still able to have domestic sport and the opportunity to go onto national representation is something we should be very very proud of. As a country we have come together and worked hard to manage COVID and more importantly to have some level of normality and it’s great to have the Parliamentary Friends of Softball and Baseball here today to the oldest Parliament in the land.”

Leader of the Opposition Jodi McKay MP was also excited about the formation of the Parliamentary friends of Softball and Baseball and athletes heading to Tokyo ”‘The Parliamentary Friends is about bringing us altogether to support you. A lot of people say why do you need a friendship group?  It is for us in Parliament reaching out and giving you our support and not just because you are going to the Olympics, but also that you are extraordinary young women doing extraordinary things and we can take that to our communities.”

Softball NSW CEO Daniel Rushworth is very excited on the opportunity to work more closely with the NSW Government “The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Softball and Baseball is a fantastic initiative that allows us to work hand-in-hand with the State Government to benefit NSW communities. The State Government has played an essential role in helping our sport to improve playing facilities and amenities across NSW. They have  and continue to assist us on our number one initiative of increasing participation through a number of programs designed to engage females, Seniors and Multicultural communities.”

Rushworth also added “Through the Parliamentary Friends of Softball and Baseball initiative we hope to connect our community with Members of Parliament to form stronger relationships from all over NSW and seek their help with both participation and infrastructure projects within their electorates.”

The launch also provided an opportunity for our Softball NSW athletes to be recognised by Members of Parliament with 11 of the 23 Olympic Squad Athletes present as well as dual Olympic Medalist Fiona Crawford.

The launch will now be followed with further opportunities in the coming months.

Download Media Release: Launched Parliamentary Friends of Softball & Baseball