Lambert awarded GIANTS gong

Greater Western Sydney GIANTS host mother Melissa Lambert (left in photo) last week became the first recipient of the ‘GIANTS Football Woman of the Year’ in front of more than 400 guests at the club’s inaugural Ladies Lunch.

Melissa works in welfare for the GIANTS alongside husband Craig Lambert and was presented with the award, along with a set of pearls from Kailis, at the sold out event, which was hosted by Sunrise pair Melissa Doyle and David Kosh at Daltone House on Friday August 2.

The award recognises Melissa’s devotion to the advancement and development of Australian football through her commitment to player welfare and support. Her ability to promote a sense of ‘family’ and belonging to the club amongst the players and their families has helped galvanise theclub in a very short space of time. All this while caring and nurturing her own family of six.

GIANTS CEO David Matthews said that Melissa epitomized the work ethics and values that the fledging club hoped to instill within the organisation and was a deserving recipient of the award.

“As a club we are so lucky to have a woman like Melissa overseeing the developing and the welfare of our young players. Melissa hasworked tirelessly with the boys over the past two years to ensure that theyhave the skills they need to settle in to life in Sydney.

“We are in a unique situation with the age of our playing group, many of whom have moved out of home for the first time.

“Having someone like Melissa at our club, whose entire family offer a fostered home environment to our players is an incredible benefit and we are thrilled that we have been able to honor her in this way in our club’s first year,” Matthews said.

Melissa said that she was not expecting to the award, but was delighted with the progress that the young group had made since their arrival at the GIANTS.

“Women are such an important part of our game and we really do have some fantastic women here at the GIANTS so I’m really pleased and feel extremely lucky to have been given this award.

“Watching these boys learn and grow since they have arrived has made the work worthwhile.

“They have moved out of home and have learned to cook, clean, pay their car registration and fend for themselves, it has been really rewarding to watch,” Melissa said.