Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On 14 March I was invited to the vote count ceremony for the Vikings Women's Softball Club for the Valhalla Award—the award for best player. I would like to thank the club for their invitation and their hospitality, and I also thank the committee for the great work of the club members: the president, Sharon Perkins; the vice president, Megan MacLean; the secretary, Kelly Baker; the treasurer, Angela Balnaves; and the registrar, Jordana Baker. Congratulations, of course, to the winner of the Valhalla Award, Marietjie Haereroa for her strong and consistent performances. Her name kept coming up throughout the evening, so it was a very fitting award.

Although the Vikings Softball Club has its origins in 1981 when the Northern District Softball Association was formed, it was only in 2005 that the women's club was established and took the field the summer season of 2005. It has been strength to strength since then, with teams travelling around Australia and overseas to compete. In 2014 Vikings women finished with two premiership flags, and with the rounds versus the other clubs just finished, I understand that division 2, division 5 and the under-17 teams are through to the finals again this year, and I wish them all the best for their upcoming finals campaign.

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