NEWS DESK
Batter beware: Genevieve Beacom doing what she loves: pitching – hard – against the boys.
Pitching in and breaking down barriers Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au NOT one to let the boys have all the fun, Genevieve Beacom, of Somerville, revelled in her role as the only girl to represent the under-12 Little League Southern Mariners Charter at the Victorian Little League Baseball championships, Jells Park, over the Easter holidays. Her strong pitching helped her team win its way into the grand final and be
crowned state champions. The Southern Mariners will now go to Lismore in June to compete in the Australian Little League Championships. But that’s only the beginning: the winner will then go on to the United States to compete in the World Little League championships – something only a few junior players can even dream about. Genevieve, in grade 6 at Flinders Christian College, produced an outstanding pitching effort at Jells Park to ensure the Mariners a berth at the
Australian championships. Playing at that standard is a tough call – for Genevieve and her parents Chrysanne and Brendon – with training Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at either Sandringham or Cheltenham, and games on weekends at the State Baseball Centre, Altona. But achieving such a high standard requires application and dedication, and lots of driving. “I love pitching,” Genevieve said last week. “It’s my favourite position and I play it as much as I can.”
Playing with a girl can be a challenge for some of her male teammates. “Some of the boys get a little bit jealous, but others just treat me like one of them,” she said. The lure of playing against teams from all over the world is an exciting prospect. “It’s something I always wanted to do.” Mrs Beacom says it is “very unusual for a girl to do so well”, adding that her daughter “probably throws the hardest and the fastest in the team”. Battling preconceived ideas – that a
girl can be as good, or better, than the boys – is another challenge Genevieve has overcome. “She is something of a role model, with other girls inspired by what she has done,” Mrs Beacom said. “There are stereotypes about what boys and girls can do and she’s broken all that down: she doesn’t expect any favours, it just fires her up. “To achieve what she has, even if she were a boy, is amazing as she is at the bottom age and can play again next year.”
Keepers farewell light on the hill CAPE Schanck lighthouse keepers Tony and Prue Sheers have said goodbye to their former workplace and B&B accommodation business after 20 years, with the 1859 light coming under the control of Parks Victoria this week. Parks has assumed the day-to-day running of the site until, it says, a commercial lease is signed with a new tenant. It will offer free visitor access into the light station reserve from Wednesday 4 May. Visitors will be able to explore the reserve grounds during normal park opening hours. The car park, picnic areas and toilets are open, while access to the surrounding scenic
features via walking tracks, lookouts and boardwalk at Cape Schanck are unchanged. The Sheers revelled in their role and regarded it as a rare privilege to guard and protect such a precious treasure at the most southern end of the peninsula – as well as upholding a tradition steeped in history. For the couple, having the occupation “lighthouse keeper” stamped in their passports was an unexpected bonus, and came at a time when they were considering semi-retirement. “One day Tony just came home from work and said ‘How would you like to run a lighthouse?’” Prue said. “That was 20 years ago and
we are just finishing up now.” The couple were involved in hospitality and running B&Bs all their lives, so taking over the lighthouse was easy – with Prue’s fascination for history making it a perfect match. History abounds, with 59 spiral steps leading up the 21 metre limestone tower, with the original counterweight still hanging down the centre. The beam shines 48 kilometres out to sea, with its 1000-watt globe still sitting in its original mercury bath. The Sheers will continue living at Fingal while running a motel in Ballarat. Stephen Taylor
The long goodbye: Lighthouse keepers Tony and Prue Sheers bid farewell after two decades. Picture: Yanni
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Western Port News 3 May 2016
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