Trudi Koskelainen (Skinner)

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

The name Koskelainen has been synonymous with softball in Shepparton as Margo Koskelainen is a member of the Sports Hall of Fame as an Australian Olympic softball umpire.

Margot’s daughter Trudy played Softball and Netball, however it was in the sport of Volleyball that she rose to National level as a junior.

Trudy attended Bouchier Street Primary School and Wanganui Park High School. She played Softball and represented the Shepparton Softball Association at the State Championships as a pitcher for both under 14 and under 17 levels.

In the winter she chose to play Netball and also represented Shepparton at junior level at the Victorian Championships.

Trudy was then recruited to play Volleyball by Terry Crosier and was coached by Peter Dunkley and Bob Crosier, teachers at Wanganui at the time. She played for her school and the Shepparton Volleyball Association at both junior and senior levels.

Trudy was spotted by Victorian Volleyball officials when she attended a coaching clinic in 1982 and was asked to try out for and was selected in the Victorian Country Under 17 Girls team at age 14. She was subsequently added to the training squad for the Victorian underage girl’s teams and at age 15 was selected in the Victorian under 18 girls’ team for the National Under 18 championships in Canberra. She also competed in the 1984 championships in Dubbo.

Not only was Trudy a multi-talented sports person, but was always beautifully presented and in 1985 was chosen as Shepparton Sun Showgirl. Trudy epitomises the talented girls we have produced in Shepparton ant the City recognises her efforts as a junior sports person by inducting her into the Sports Hall of Fame honour roll. Congratulations Trudy Koskelainen.