▁than ▁some ▁and ▁having ▁won ▁major ▁international ▁compet itions . ▁ ▁The ▁removal ▁of ▁soft ball ▁from ▁the ▁Olympic ▁programme ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁national ▁team ▁getting ▁less ▁fund ing . ▁ ▁History ▁Australian ▁women ▁competed ▁in ▁their ▁first ▁international ▁competition ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁when ▁they ▁played ▁a ▁series ▁against ▁New ▁Zealand ▁in ▁St ▁K ilda ▁at ▁the ▁St ▁K ilda ▁Cr icket ▁Gr ound . ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁people ▁watched ▁the ▁game ▁live . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁international ▁for ▁Australian ▁women ▁took ▁place ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 1 ▁when ▁the ▁Austral ians ▁tou red ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁ ▁Australia ▁won ▁both ▁games ▁against ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ers . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁Australia ▁hosted ▁its ▁first ▁international ▁tournament ▁with ▁national ▁teams ▁from ▁Australia , ▁New ▁Zealand ▁and ▁South ▁Africa ▁compet ing . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁tournament , ▁Australia ▁beat ▁South ▁Africa ▁by ▁a ▁score ▁of ▁ 2 – 1 . ▁ ▁Australia ▁hosted ▁the ▁event ▁again ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁where ▁they ▁beat ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ers ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁ 2 – 1 . ▁At ▁the ▁IS F ▁Women ' s ▁World ▁Championship , ▁Australia ▁finished ▁first ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 5 ▁and ▁second ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁The ▁ 1 9 6 5 ▁victory ▁was ▁considered ▁very ▁impress ive ▁as ▁they ▁beat ▁the ▁Americans , ▁who ▁invent ed ▁the ▁game ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 7 , ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁championship . ▁