Australia's softball history began in 1939 when Gordon Young, Director of Physical Education in NSW, began to promote the game in schools and colleges. In 1942, during World War II, US army sergeant William Duvernet organised softball as a recreation for US nurses stationed in Victoria. Another American, Mack Gilley, introduced the game to Queensland in 1946. Australia's first inter-state championship was played in Brisbane in 1947 and was won by Victoria. The second national championship was held in Melbourne two years later. It was at this championship that the Australian Softball Federation was formed with Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales being the founding members. The other States of Australia have since joined. Eight Australian Championships are now conducted each year - Women's, Men's, Under 23 Women and Men, Under 19 Women and Men, and Under 16 Girls and Boys. Softball has been a major sport in the schools program for some time now and it is estimated that more than 250,000 children play the game each year.
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) was founded in 1951 and is the only national organisation representing qualified urban and regional planners and other related disciplines in Australia. Originally known as the Regional and Town Planning Institute, it later became the Royal Australian Planning Institute, until 2002 when the current name was adopted.
The states and territories are the first-level administrative divisions of the Commonwealth of Australia. They are the second level of government in Australia, located between the federal and local government tiers.
The Australian Chess Federation (ACF) is dedicated to promoting the game of chess in Australia, and is a member of FIDE, the World Chess Federation.
School debating in Australia is primarily organised by The Australian Debating Federation and its eight affiliates. The focus of the debating year is the Australian National Schools Debating Championships, at which the team that is to represent Australia at the World Schools Debating Championships is selected.
Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club Inc. is a Rugby Union club in Tasmania. Established in 1964, the club is a member of the Tasmanian Rugby Union and Tasmanian Rugby Union Juniors, affiliated with the Australian Rugby Union and plays in the Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide League.
Keep Australia Beautiful is a not-for-profit Australian environmental conservation organisation. The Keep Australia Beautiful National Association is a federation of independent organisations formed in each of Australian states and territories – the first of which, Keep Australia Beautiful – Victoria was formed in Melbourne in 1968 by Dame Phyllis Frost.
Gymnastics Australia (GA) is the governing body for the sport of gymnastics in Australia.
The Australian Rowing Championships is an annual rowing event that determines Australia's national rowing champions and facilitates selection of Australian representative crews for World Championships and the Olympic Games. It is Australia's premier regatta, with states, clubs and schools sending their best crews. The Championships commence with the National Regatta - men's, women's and lightweight events in open, under 23, under 19, under 17 and school age categories. Rowers at the National Regatta race in their local club colours with composite crews permitted. The Championships conclude with the Interstate Regatta - currently eight events competed by state representative crews or scullers selected by the state rowing associations. The states compete for an overall points tally which decides the Zurich Cup.
Table Tennis Australia is the National Sporting Organisation for the Sport of Table Tennis in Australia and is affiliated with both the ITTF which oversees the international governance and development of Table Tennis and the OTTF which oversees the sport development at a regional level.
The Tassie Van Demons are a nationally competing women's hockey team based in Tasmania, Australia. Coached by Ilene Carr, they compete in the Australian Hockey League. Hockey Tasmania is the only sporting association in Tasmania which supports both a men's and women's team in National league competitions and one of only three sports in the State that has a representative team in a truly national competition. Some of the former coaches of the Van Demons include David Guest, Ollie Close, Zain Wright and Ilene Carr.
Judo Australia (JA) is the National Sporting Organisation recognised by the Australian Sports Commission for the sport of Judo in Australia.
Bowls Australia is the governing body for the sport of Bowls in Australia. Bowls Australia is responsible for the leadership, development and management of lawn bowls in Australia. It is a not-for-profit organisation governed by a voluntary board that provides the strategic direction for the sport and the strategies that are implemented by the staff at the national office.
The Australian Weightlifting Federation is the governing body for the sport of Weightlifting in Australia.
Wrestling Australia is the organization that currently governs Beach wrestling, Freestyle wrestling, and Greco-Roman wrestling for Men and Women in the Australia. Wrestling Australia is also the official representative to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and to United World Wrestling (UWW) and is the national governing body of the sport.
Eightball Tasmania, formed in 1983 is the governing body in Tasmania, Australia for the sport of Eightball pool, a cue sport.
South Eastern Tasmania Eightball Association is the governing body for the South Eastern Tasmania, Australia or the "Eastern Shore" of Hobart for the sport of Eightball pool, a cue sport and is affiliated with Eightball Tasmania.
