In Memoriam: Jill Lindsay

It is with great sadness that the AFL advises that Ground Operations Manager, Ms Jill Lindsay, passed away today.
 
Ms Lindsay had been battling cancer and died in Melbourne this morning.
 
AFL Chief Executive Officer Mr Andrew Demetriou said the loss of Ms Lindsay – the longest-serving employee in the history of the VFL / AFL and the only woman honoured with Life Membership in the competition’s history, would be deeply felt across the AFL, the 18 AFL clubs and the wider football community.
 
“Jill was a trailblazer across more than 40 years working for the VFL and AFL, and a hero to generations of staff and football people who worked with her and admired her. She was a source of valuable advice and wisdom to me, both as Football Operations Manager and Chief Executive, and I will miss terribly her friendship, wise counsel and laughter. Many senior staff, both within the AFL and across our clubs, are today heartbroken by the loss of Jill,” Mr Demetriou said.
 
“Jill had relentless drive, was prepared to tackle any task and expected the highest standards, firstly of herself, and of everyone she worked with.
 
“She was a mentor to so many women across the football industry, and a loyal and trusted friend for so many across our competition, who are feeling her loss deeply today.

“Jill was a natural leader whose inner strength and support for colleagues made people around her walk taller. She would not hesitate to put people in their place if she thought it was appropriate – including CEO’s of the AFL.

“Jill was a person respected at every level of our business; whose values, integrity, work ethic, and commitment to growth – personal and for the organization, and for individuals who work with her, in business and in her sporting life – were second to none.

“While she is lost to us, she will never be forgotten” Mr. Demetriou said.
 
Jill was surrounded by family in her final days while in palliative care, which was extremely important to her, as she valued personal relationships beyond measure, he said.

“Even in her last few days, Jill wanted people to know that she had had a great life and loved every minute of it, and that she had loved every minute of working at the AFL and in football. She didn’t want her passing to be a sad time but a celebration of a full life,” Mr Demetriou said.

Ms Lindsay was active in her role as the AFL’s Ground Operations Manager up until the Christmas break just over a month ago and continued to work throughout 2010 while undergoing treatment. 

She began at the then-VFL in 1970 as an office clerk and her various roles in the last four decades included VFL Park Match Day Supervisor, VFL Park Super Box Co-ordinator, VFL Permit and Clearance Secretary, VFL Park Membership Manager and VFL Park Final Series Co-ordinator.
 
She took over as VFL Membership Manager from 1986 and then began the role of  AFL Ground Operations Manager from 1991, which she filled until her passing. Last October’s Grand Final Replay between Collingwood and St Kilda represented her 43rd Grand Final in an official capacity at firstly the VFL and then AFL, including also the two Grand Finals in 1977.
 
Last year, the AFL Commission announced a scholarship in Jill Lindsay’s name, for her outstanding service to the game and to further promote careers for women in sports administration.  The scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduate of AFL Sportsready and the first recipient of the Jill Lindsay scholarship will be named this month.

Apart from her working career with the AFL, Jill also gave a lifetime of service to softball as a player, coach and administrator.

She represented New South Wales as a junior and New South Wales and Victoria and coached the Victorian women’s team from 1998 to 1991 and the Victorian under 19 women’s team from 1979 to 1987.

She also coached the Rebels and Melbourne Majestics in the National League and played a leading role in the establishment of the Brentwood Rebels Softball Club in 1981, which played in the Waverley Softball Association.

Jill became a Life Member of Brentwood Rebels in 1991 and received the Australian Sport Medal in 2000 for her service to softball.

Jill is survived by her mother Marjorie, sister Robyn Torpy and brothers Graham and Ross. Funeral details will be released when they are confirmed.

Jill’s key personal and career details are listed below:

JILL LINDSAY
Born: 4th January, 1950 in Ryde, NSW

Educated: Marsden High School, Ermington, NSW
Leaving Certificate

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Softball:
NSW Schoolgirls Representative – age 14 / 15 /16 yrs
NSW Open Women’s State Representative – 1967 to 1970
Moved to Melbourne at 19 years of age to pursue softball interests
Victorian Open Women’s State Representative – 1971 to 1982
Melbourne Softball Association (Fawkner Park) – 1970 to 1981
During her Softball playing days, Jill also held numerous other positions:
 o Ground Manager
 o Coach – local teams
 o Coach – Melbourne Softball Association Representative Teams that competed in Victorian Championships
 o Umpire
 o Weekly preparation and maintenance of softball diamonds and fields
 o Selector for Victorian State Teams at U16, U19 and Open Women‟s levels

Victorian U/19 Women’s State Coach – 1979 to 1987
Victorian Open Women’s State Coach – 1988 to 1991
In 1981, formed a new club team, Brentwood Rebels, to play in the Waverley Softball Association (Jells Park) competition, which was the most powerful Victorian Softball Association at the time.
 o Player – 1982 to 1995
 o Coach – U14, U16 & Open level from 1981 to 1996 and won numerous titles including Victorian State League, Waverley Summer Cups and Waverley Winter Cups
 o Committee Member
 o Vice President
 o Awarded Rebels Softball Club Life Membership in March 1991

Coached National League Softball Teams:
 o Rebels – 1989 to 1992 where the team won the inaugural 1989 / 90 National League Title
 o Melbourne Majestics – 1993 to 1996

Players Jill has coached, who have represented Australia in Softball:

Leanne Evans
Player: represented Australia (U/19) from 1981 to 1982 which included one Youth World Championship (1981)
represented Australia (Open Women) from 1983 to 1990 which included one World Championship (1986) and two South Pacific Classic Tournaments (1985 & 1989)
Softball Australia Hall of Fame Member (1997)
Victorian Softball Hall of Fame Member
Victorian Representative (Open & U/19) from 1982 to 1992
Victorian Open Women’s Team Captain from 1988 to 1992

Coach:
Australian U/19 Women’s Team Head Coach from 2002 to 2007
AIS Team Head Coach – International Tournaments in 2003 and 2004
Australian Softball Team Head Coach in 2002
Australian Softball Team Assistant Coach 2001 and 2002
Victorian Open Women’s Head Coach from 2000 to 2002

Peta Edebone
Player: represented Australia (U/19) from 1986 to 1987
represented Australia (Open Women) from 1992 to 2004 which included three World Championships
represented Australia at three Olympic Games (1996 Atlanta – Bronze Medal, 2000 Sydney – Bronze Medal, 2004 Athens – Silver Medal)
Australian Open Women’s Vice Captain from 1998 to 2000 (including 2000 Sydney Olympics)
Australian Open Women’s Captain from 2001 to 2004 (including 2004 Athens Olympics)
Equal Olympic Home-Run Record Holder (Sydney 2000)

Coach:
Victorian Open Women’s Assistant Coach from 2007 to current

Other Australian Players:
Sue Ward (1984)
Julianne Hoskin (1988-1989)
Natalie Robertson (1988-1990)
Kate Quigley (2003-2004) – Jill coached her at U/14, U/16 and A Grade Club level, and Victorian State Teams
Danni Hanna (2002) – Jill coached her at U/14, U/16 and A Grade Club level, and Victorian State Teams

VFL / AFL Career:
1st March 1970 – joined the then Victorian Football League (VFL) as an Office Clerk

1970-1972 – HARRISON HOUSE
Responsibilities included:
– Office clerk general enquiries
– Relief switchboard operator
– Clerical assistant for VFL Park Membership
– Match day telephonist – VFL Park

1973-1976 – VFL HOUSE (82 JOLIMONT ST)
Responsibilities included:
– Senior VFL Park Membership Co-Ordinator
– Accounts payable clerk
– VFL Park Match Day Supervisor
– VFL Park Super Box Co-Ordinator

1977-1985 – VFL HOUSE (120 JOLIMONT RD)
Responsibilities included:
– VFL Permit and Clearance Secretary
– VFL Park Membership Manager (1979)
– VFL Park Finals Series Co-Coordinator
– Ticketing Co-Coordinator

1986 – APPOINTED VFL MEMBERSHIP MANAGER, added duties including:
– MCG / VFL Park Final Series Ticketing
– overseeing the day to day operations of VFL Park including first full Final Series at VFL Park (1991).

1989 – APPOINTED OPERATIONS MANAGER OF WAVERLEY PARK until it’s closure in 1999

1991 – APPOINTED MANAGER, GROUND OPERATIONS
Responsibilities include:
– Responsible for all venue operations relating to the set up and playing of AFL football
– Implementation of Ground Occupancy Agreements AFL Venues
– Ticketing procedures AFL Venues
– Initiating Club Membership benefits
– Recommendations on admission prices, including Pre-Season competition, Premiership Season, Final Series and Club Membership prices
– Co-ordinating AFL Membership venue entitlements
– Oversee Waverley Park day to day operations
– Final Series ticketing and reconciliation
– Venue set up for: AFL Pre-Season competition; AFL Premiership Season; AFL Final Series; Overseas exhibition games
– Ticketmaster liaison with AFL Clubs and Venues
– AFL’s liaison with all venues on set up for AFL Football
– Venue standards for AFL Football
– Distribution of all Club ticketing
– Distribution of ticketing for AFL players
– Responsible for ensuring financial distribution from match receipts and dividend are correct
– Liaise with venues on staffing and match day costs
– Supporter bulleting information for AFL football
– Liaison with broadcasters in providing requirements for TV coverage

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1991 – AFL TICKETING MANAGER
– Responsible for ticketing during the Pre-Season, Premiership Season and Finals Series

2000 – COLONIAL STADIUM (now Etihad Stadium)
– Oversaw the transition of AFL Clubs into Colonial Stadium
– AFL liaison with Nationwide Venue Management and Stadium Operations Limited for match day operations
– Responsible for co-ordinating ground inspections at all AFL venues

2001
– Distribution of match attendances for all AFL venues
– Responsible for operational arrangements for Pre-Season competition, Premiership Season and Finals Series
– Club liaison on match arrangements including travel, transfers, accommodation, ticketing etc.

Career Highlights:
1999 Football ‘Woman of the Year’
2000 Australian Sport Medal – Softball
2001 Inductee of National Pioneers Women’s Hall of Fame
2002 Awarded AFL Life Membership (the AFL’s highest honour and the first female inductee)
2007 Inductee into ‘Who’s Who of Australian Women’
2009 Inductee into ‘World Who’s Who of Women (15th Edition)’ – International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England