Drummoyne rewarded for volunteer focus

AFL Sydney Harbour Junior Football Club, Drummoyne Power, has been recognised for their outstanding volunteer program by being bestowed with a NSW Sports Volunteer Award.

Awarded by the NSW Sports Federation, Drummoyne Power was one of three winners in the Volunteer Management category.

Club President, Gavin Nelson, was honoured to be recognised at a state level.

“It is a great reward for the volunteers in our club, as they are at the core of our success and progression,” he said.

“We are a growing the club with an ever-increasing number of Auskick and Youth sides playing across the weekend, and we always need more volunteers to resource these sides.”

The club’s focus on volunteers was strengthened from their participation in the Greater Sydney Juniors’ Hands Up Program. The program aims to create a sole volunteer manager at each club so they can attract and retain more quality people in hands on roles.

With a renewed focus, the Power have this year moved to sub-committees and forming job descriptions for each committee role.

Nelson believes increased ownership and volunteers understanding their roles has helped build the club.

“We have received great feedback that people genuinely love the club,” Nelson said.

“The club has had people join from other sports, and they are blown away by the fact we are a community-based club.”

Drummoyne Power has grown from 50 participants in the 2000 season, to the end of this season, where over 250 participants took part in the Sydney Harbour competition – claiming two premierships out of four Grand Final appearances.

Nelson recognises the club is still relatively young and has room to grow through the contribution of their volunteers.

“We have enjoyed quick growth through largely, word of mouth,” he said.

“Saying this, we still have to grow, and we are looking to do this through the number and quality of our people.”