06/05/2026
The reason we exist!
The Softball Foundation New Zealand Trust came into being thanks to the generosity and vision of Lyndsey Leask QSM, who bequeathed the female game a legacy from her estate to establish the Foundation.
Lyndsey was a dedicated and fully involved trailblazer for women in our sport. She was a player, coach and administrator for Canterbury and part of the NZ Women’s Team from 1973-1982 changing the role of chaperone to manager. She managed the World Champion Gold Medal team in 1982, the team to later be inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame. In 1993 she became NZ Softball’s first female President alongside her 25 years of service as a New Zealand Softball Councillor. Not content with national service, Lyndsey also served on the International Softball Federation and was appointed to the Technical Committee for the first Olympic Games for softball in USA in 1996 and officiated with the first pitch ceremony at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. Lyndsey was a SNZ and ISF Hall of Fame inductee and received an acknowledgement for outstanding service from the WBSC (posthumously).
Inspired by her actions, more members of our community have stepped up to donate, allowing us to grant thousands of dollars to nurture and develop young female softball players throughout the country. The bigger our community of donors, the more young women we can support.
If you would like to learn more about how you can donate, about the Foundation itself, or about the amazing Lyndsey, go to our website at https://www.sporty.co.nz/nzsoftballtrust/home-2
