Alexandra’s Valmai Breen is honoured to be included in the hall of fame at the Central Otago Sports Awards in Wānaka on Friday, May 10.

The grandmother has been an integral part of the softball community in Central for over 50 years, as a committee member, coach, mentor, and playing in the outfield.

Valmai started playing softball when she was 12 in Dunedin, and then started playing in Alexandra after getting married and moving here.

She said she was initially a “bit reluctant” to go to the awards ceremony, but her son Lindsay and others dropped a few hints that she had better attend.

“I was honoured to receive the award.”

Valmai said she still loves being a part of softball and watching the sport flourish.

“When you enjoy something, you just get on and do it.”

Valmai with her award. PHOTO: Image Central

These days, Valmai volunteers as a coach at St Gerard’s School (where she has two grandchildren attending) and Poolburn School too.

“I’ll stay at St G’s because of coaching my grandchildren, until they go to Dunstan High School.”

She’s been helping at Poolburn School on summer afternoons on Thursdays for the past three seasons.

She described the students there as “full of character” with “great huge personalities” with “awesome talent”.

“There’s such a sense of fun that they give me . . . it’s delightful.”

One of her 13 grandchildren was also a finalist in the team of year category, Bella Breen with rowing partner Ruby Smith, who both row for Dunstan High School and Dunstan Arm rowing club.

Valmai said the future for softball looked good in Central.

“The O’Neill family are replacing me with their drive and passion for softball . . . and they have some skilled players coming through.” 

The other two inductees into the hall of fame were Wānaka’s Simone Maier, for multisport, and Alexandra’s John Roche for golf.

Valmai lives across the road from Alexandra’s other hall of fame recipient John Roche who has contributed to golf in the district as a former Otago golf representative, golf professional and former chief executive of Golf Otago.

She said the pair plan to toast their success over a glass of wine.

John Roche with his hall of fame award. PHOTO: Image Central  

With the winter sports well underway, softball is taking a break, but Valmai will be cheering on the sidelines, supporting grandson Charlie Breen who plays rugby, and her three granddaughters who play netball and another two grandchildren who play rugby around the district.  

The annual Central Otago Sports Awards continue to grow as the Central Lakes community celebrate the array of talented athletes and officials in the region.

Nominations reached a record high this year and the calibre of finalists again impressed.

Judges were pleased to see many different codes represented from cricket to curling, and equestrian to squash.

Sport Central sport and active recreation adviser Jo Knight said ticket sales were huge, with the venue packed with sports enthusiasts from the Maniototo, Queenstown and all points in between.

 Tomorrow The Central App will feature another local sports award story.