Passing of Des McCammon
McCammon full of passion for game
By Jeff Cheshire
Otago softball has lost one of its most passionate figures.
Des McCammon died on Monday aged 75.
A life member of both the Ellis Park club and the Otago Softball Association, he had a huge involvement in the game.
A minute’s silence will be held in his honour before tomorrow’s club games.
Ellis Park stalwart and fellow Otago Softball life member Kath McGilbert said he was an everpresent figure.
“He was passionate about the game; he had a heap of knowledge”.
“As long as I can remember he’s always been involved in softball, he’s always helpful, always loyal”.
“He would give up his time to coach, put his hand up to help out with functions and sitting on committees and being part of organising tournaments, always being active”.
Beginning as a player with Ellis Park, he branched out into coaching, administration and officiating roles.
He held various roles on the OSA executive, and coached both club and representative teams.
One the national level, he helped form the junior advisory board for Softball New Zealand, which looked after junior softball.
He was a key figure in introducing Tee-ball to New Zealand, as well as writing The Little Red Softball Book, a rule book distributed to the country’s schools.
Alongside that, he umpired locally and earned his New Zealand umpires badge.
McGilbert said his loss would be noticed and he remained visible in the sport right until the end.
“It’s definitely a big loss within the softball family”.
“He was a life member of the Ellis Park Softball Club and Otago Softball”.
“He’s always out supporting softball on Saturday’s, even after giving up his coaching and umpiring, he was always on the sideline supporting his club.
“He’s always been with Ellis Park, a true loyal softball man”.
“I have no doubt that this season he would have been on the sideline watching the games”.
“He’d always know when Ellis Park was playing and when the players were playing and he’d enjoy the game”.
Passing of Des McCammon
1 November 2018
By Jeff Cheshire
Otago softball has lost one of its most passionate figures.
Des McCammon died on Monday aged 75.
A life member of both the Ellis Park club and the Otago Softball Association, he had a huge involvement in the game.
A minute’s silence will be held in his honour before tomorrow’s club games.
Ellis Park stalwart and fellow Otago Softball life member Kath McGilbert said he was an everpresent figure.
“He was passionate about the game; he had a heap of knowledge”.
“As long as I can remember he’s always been involved in softball, he’s always helpful, always loyal”.
“He would give up his time to coach, put his hand up to help out with functions and sitting on committees and being part of organising tournaments, always being active”.
Beginning as a player with Ellis Park, he branched out into coaching, administration and officiating roles.
He held various roles on the OSA executive, and coached both club and representative teams.
One the national level, he helped form the junior advisory board for Softball New Zealand, which looked after junior softball.
He was a key figure in introducing Tee-ball to New Zealand, as well as writing The Little Red Softball Book, a rule book distributed to the country’s schools.
Alongside that, he umpired locally and earned his New Zealand umpires badge.
McGilbert said his loss would be noticed and he remained visible in the sport right until the end.
“It’s definitely a big loss within the softball family”.
“He was a life member of the Ellis Park Softball Club and Otago Softball”.
“He’s always out supporting softball on Saturday’s, even after giving up his coaching and umpiring, he was always on the sideline supporting his club.
“He’s always been with Ellis Park, a true loyal softball man”.
“I have no doubt that this season he would have been on the sideline watching the games”.
“He’d always know when Ellis Park was playing and when the players were playing and he’d enjoy the game”.
Passing of Des McCammon
1 November 2018
It is with much sadness we advise the passing of Des McCammon passed away suddenly in Dunedin last week. Des was a well known figure in Otago Softball, a SNZ Umpire and past President of the Ellis Park Softball Club, plus a member of the Otago Association for many years.
Des was also one of the founders of the SNZ Junior Advisory Board, being Chairman of this also.