Nominations open for Recognition Awards
Nominations are now open for the AFL NSW/ACT Volunteer of the Year award, AFL NSW/ACT Coach of the Year award, AFL Merit award and NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year.
Volunteers and coaches are the backbone of Australian football and without their continued dedication, support and commitment many leagues and clubs simply wouldn’t exist.
The aim of the Volunteer of the Year award is to recognise the contribution unpaid helpers make to our wonderful game. Whether they’ve been a runner for 30 years, a club president leading their club, or anything in between, they should all be nominated.
The Coach of the Year award aims to reward coaches who have been advocates in providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for players.
An AFL Merit award is one of the most prestigious in community football and is given to two people in the state who have provided significant service to Australian Football. To be eligible for the award, nominees must have been involved in the game for a minimum of ten years.
NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year is open to any volunteer at Auskick Centres across the country who has helped provide a fun and safe environment for our youngest participants.
Sydney Swans ruckman Shane Mumford says his formative years in junior football wouldn’t have been possible without the volunteers at his local football club.
“Volunteers are massively important, without the volunteers you get in the canteen, on the gate, coaching and umpiring – footy clubs can’t survive without them,” he said.
“My mum and dad still volunteer at Bunyip footy club, dad’s been on the committee and mum’s in the canteen. Even though I haven’t been playing there for a long time they still get down there and do what they can to help out.”
Swans Rhyce Shaw says his father, former Collingwood captain Rhyce Shaw, still supports his junior club as a volunteer umpire on the weekend.
GWS GIANTS Head Coach Kevin Sheedy says the contribution of volunteers to our sport is invaluable.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our game. Without their countless hours of hard work looking after everything from running the canteen to coaching the under 12s or helping with the administration, we wouldn’t have a game to enjoy the weekend,” he said.
“It’s important we take to thank everyone involved in making this great game. They are there every week – rain, hail or shine and the game simply wouldn’t go on without them.”
Twenty-eight regional winners will be awarded from leagues and clubs within NSW and the ACT for the Volunteer and Coach of the Year. There will also be one state winner for the coach and volunteer of the year awards, who will both receive a Toyota AFL Grand Final experience for two. The AFL Merit award is awarded to only two people in the state and territory.
NSW/ACT will have 19 regional NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year winners who will receive a plaque as recognition for their contribution. A NSW/ACT winner will receive a trip to the 2012 Toyota AFL Grand Final where the overall national winner will be announced. The overall national winner will accompany the AIS Academy under 17s on their training camp in 2013 along with $5000 spending money: a true money-can’t-buy experience!
Las year’s state coach of the year was Ainslie’s Chris Rourke while South Coast AFL Juniors Chairman Sharen Balazic (pictured) received the state volunteer of the year award.
The national AFL Merit award dates back to 1931 and has seen the likes of David Parkin and Noel Judkins recognised. Last year, Keith Miller (Eastlake) and Bert Haynes (Holbrook) received the prestigious award.
Last year’s state NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year was Andrew Kitchen from the Willoughby Wildcats who also went on to win the inaugural national NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year.
Please nominate your candidates by completing the attached forms or by visiting the following links:
- Volunteer of the Year
(word doc) or online form - Coach of the Year (word doc) or online form
- NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year
Nominations close on July 16. For more information please contact AFL NSW/ACT Community Football Programs Coordinator Kirsty Garrad on kirsty.garrard@aflnswact.com.au or 02 8867 7401.
