Betty Paxton

In loving memory...

Betty Paxton first became involved in softball in 1948 playing with the Brisbane Red Devils Softball Team. Betty later became involved in the Redcliffe Police Citizens Youth Club and in 1966, with a group of friends, Betty started softball in Redcliffe. By 1967, the Redcliffe PCYC Softball Club became a member of the Brisbane Softball Association.

Betty's role with the PCYC softball club since then has been that of Club Delegate, President, Secretary, Treasurer, Coach and Statistician. From 1967 to 1984, Betty was involved in the administration of Brisbane Softball Association holding positions of Club Delegate, Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, Registrar, Canteen Convenor, Fixture Director and a Brisbane Representative Team Administrator. In acknowledgement of her service, Life Membership was conferred on Betty in 1981 by the Brisbane Softball Association.

In 1983, Redcliffe PCYC Softball Club members decided that it was time for Redcliffe to have its own Softball Association. Betty approached the Redcliffe PCYC, and with their support, the Redcliffe and Districts Softball Association commenced in 1984. Betty has held the positions of Treasurer, Registrar, Fixture Director and Canteen Convenor with Redcliffe Softball Association and has been a Redcliffe Representative Team Administrator and Statistician.

After playing on the Redcliffe PCYC grounds for six years, the Association was granted their own grounds by Redcliffe City Council. Betty and her colleagues worked tirelessly to establish and build up the Association. In 1996, Life Membership was conferred on Betty by Redcliffe Softball Association and in February 2000, the Redcliffe City Council named the softball grounds "The Betty Paxton Field", in further recognition of Betty's contribution to the sport.

In 1991, Betty became involved in Masters Softball. She formed Bets Vets Ladies Softball Team, which has participated in numerous Masters Games events, including the World, Asia Pacific (Pan Pac's), Australian and Queensland Masters Games. Betty was the administrator and coach for Bets Vets and is one of only a handful of people who has participated in every Softball Queensland Masters Tournament since its inception in 2000.

In recognition of her outstanding volunteer service to softball, Betty received a Softball Queensland Service Award in 1986, a Softball Australia Service Award in 1993, and following the introduction of the Softball Queensland extended Service Award program, a Softball Queensland Diamond Service Award in 2013.

On 12 June 2000, Betty was recognised for her achievements in the Queen's Birthday Honours when she received a Medal (OAM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her significant and extensive volunteer service to softball as an administrator, coach and to the youth of Redcliffe.

In 2018, Softball Queensland honoured Betty by naming one of the most treasured awards after her - The Softball Queensland Betty Paxton OAM Volunteer of the Year Award.

In recognition of her outstanding service, the general community outside of softball, Betty also received the following awards:

Life Membership of Queensland Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association
Quota Club of Redcliffe - Woman of the Year (1983)
Redcliffe City Council - Citizen of the Year and Sports Official of the Year (1999)
Many awards by community groups for her contribution to sport and the welfare of children on the Redcliffe Peninsula
Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians (1999)

Betty was the epitome in every sense, what it means to be a volunteer. Betty consistently and unselfishly gave her time to the sport of softball, PCYC and the general community for than 70 years.

Betty continued to serve our sport at club, association and masters levels up until the very day that she grew her angels wings in September 2020. Betty will continue to live on in everyone's lives that she had touched.

In loving memory of our Aunty Betty, Paxton Pride Softball was formed as a legacy to our matriarch in June 2021.