Life Members of HBC Softball Club Inc
Rob Craigie
2012
Rob Craigie joined the Club in 2000 /01 after moving up from Southland. Rob’s son was playing under 8’s then where he was assistant Coach for that team whilst playing for Northcote that season. HBC had four junior teams and was run by one man Stephen Ellison. Rob didn’t play in 2001/2 but was still Coaching and a part of the committee then. When HBC got their first men’s team Rob started playing again and was still Coaching. Rob, remembers the day Heath Walker came to our registration day. He sat down and had the discussion around starting a men’s team and the rest is as they say history. Rob is HBC’s first life member awarded 2012, our first senior North Harbour player (2007/8), one of our first North Harbour rep Coaches (2008/9 - albeit assistant to Neil Morrison who was in our club at the time), then North Harbour Head Coach 2009/10 and 2010/11.
Heath Walker
2013
Heath joined club the Club in the 2002/3 season and was instrumental in helping us get a Senior men’s team up and running. Heath spent the first year or two playing and coaching his kids then was asked to put his name forward to be Club President in 2004/05, which he did. Heath organised the clubs real first committee, before this it was run by only four guys - Rob Craigie, Mark Gardiner, Ian Spencer and Murray Tricket (President by default). These four made the decisions for the club, as the club founder Stephen Ellison resigned. Heath started his Presidency with only six teams, by the time he resigned in 2008 we had 12 teams, three seniors and nine juniors. Heath was reinstated as President in 2010/11 and again resigned at the end of that season. Heath was awarded life membership in 2013, he is our second Life member.
Wayne Branks
2016
Wayne Branks joined the club in 2004/5 and started as Coach of his kid’s team. He then moved into the Committee that same year. Over the years he has taken on many roles in the committee ranks. Wayne has been a Coach, Committee Member, Player within our club since moving up from Southland and never playing Softball. His commitment to Club and Orewa College from which we used as a breeding ground for HBC Softball was second to none. Wayne was awarded life membership in 2016 and is our 3rd life member. Wayne resigned from committee duties in 2017.
Ronnie Gurney
2016
Ronlynne Gurney joined HBC in 2005/6. Ronnie came to HBC with a wealth of Softball knowledge and changed the way the Club sourced funding. She has been a core member of our club since as Secretary and Chief Scorer bringing HBC up to speed with other clubs around player stats. Over the years Ronnie has been involved in organising many invents and helped us try our hand at the premier level of Softball with both genders. Ronnie was awarded life membership in 2016 and resigned in 2017. She is our forth life member and first female.
Marcus Walsh
2017
Marcus Walsh joined in 2006/7. Marcus has been an active part of our club, although not wanting to take on a management role Marcus is always available to help with anything that needs hands on help. Marcus has been a valuable part of the club. Without volunteers like him small clubs like ours would not survive. He has also Coached from under 8’s to running our social men’s team, he has keep that team going for a number of years now. Marcus was awarded life membership in 2017/18 he is our 5th life member.