The beginning of Bears...
Bears Softball Club was formed in 1946 by the 'Sigg Sisters' as a means of encouraging women and girls to participate in sport after World War Two. One of the founding members, Daphne Hass O.A.M (nee Sigg) was president of Brisbane Softball Association for 17 years and is a life member of Bears, embodying the club motto “Bears for Life”.
The Club become incorporated and established a Constitution on the 14 May 1997.
Bears Softball Club is affiliated with the Brisbane Softball Association (BSA) and Softball Queensland and offers teams in a variety of levels, from highly competitive Women's teams through to our fantastic C grade teams with more focus on the social aspects of Softball. Bears fields teams in the U18, U16, U14, and U12 teams, 'Modified' Softball for ages 9 - 11 years and Tee-ball for 6 - 9 years. The Club does not have a Men's team, but caters for boys up to the U14 age group.
Bears has a reputation for producing high calibre softball players including Australian representatives in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (Kim Cooper, Carolyn Crudgington, and Joyce Lester), 2000 Sydney Olympic Games (Sandra Allen, Simone Morrow and Natalie Shapiro), the 2008 Beijing Olympics (Jodie Bowering and Kylie Cronk) and 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Chelsea Forkin). .
Bears Softball Club currently have players representing Queensland and Tasmania, as well as members of the 2024 Australian Women's representative teams.
Founder Profile - Daphne Hass OAM
Daphne Hass has played and administered the game of softball for some 54 years.
She represented Queensland from 1947 – 1952.
At the club level she was a foundation member of Bears Softball Club in 1946 along with her 3 sisters Berneice, Sybil and June.
After retiring from competitive Softball she became President of Bears. Here she was awarded a Life Membership after seeing out her 40th year with the Club before moving on to the administration scene of Brisbane.
Within 3 years Daphne had moved through the administrative ranks and was elected President of Brisbane Softball Association in 1983. During this time she served on numerous committees.
Daphne received a Brisbane Life membership in 1991 and an Australian Softball Federation Award in 1992.
In 1993 she was awarded an Order of Australia and in 2000 received an Australian Sports Medal, along with her brother Doug.
She retired as President of BSA in June 2000 after 16 years in the position.
Since 1983 Daphne has been an active member of the Qld Women’s Amateur Sports Council and was awarded a Life Membership in 1994.
Daphne rates her 54 years of involvement in softball as a most satisfying and rewarding time.
