COUNTRY PREMIERS CROWNED AND ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNISED
The Tenth Annual WorkSafe VCFL Premiers Dinner was held at the Hilton on the Park on Saturday night with over 500 members of the country football fraternity joining the WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League in recognising all senior champions across the competition in football and netball, along with a host of individual and organisational recognition awards.
A highlight of the night was the presentation to Val Hardie from the Mornington Football Club of the prestigious AFL Merit Award by AFL Legend Ron Barassi. Val spoke eloquently and passionately about the role football has played in her life, and the positive impact of football on young people in country and suburban communities.
Stalwarts of their respective football clubs, Ray Patterson and Bill Kuys were honoured for their tireless work with their clubs over many years with the VCFL Volunteer of the Year Awards. Ray has been the driving force behind the expansion of the newest VCFL Senior Club, the Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club, and Bill Kuys has resurrected the Emerald Football Club to be the VCFL’s first Gold Standard Quality Club recipient.
The Central Murray Football League and the North Gippsland Football Netball League were recognised with League Achievement Awards for their programs and initiatives over the 2010 season.
South Barwon Football Netball Club took home the much coveted VCFL Victor Sports Club of the Year Award.
The WorkSafe VCFL were also able to present the EJ Whitten Foundation with a donation for $22,500 to assist with the work to inform country men about the importance of regular health and prostate checks. These funds were raised as a proportion of football short sales that bore the EJ Whitten Foundation logo throughout the 2010 season.
CEO of the WorkSafe VCFL, Glenn Scott, was full of praise for the award winners and the attendees at the Annual Premiers Dinner,
“It is a terrific culmination of the football and netball season to have all of our Premiers attend this function in Melbourne with us, and the opportunity for us to show our thanks to our leagues, clubs, individuals and sponsor partners for the hard work they have performed in their communities over the year.”
“This was the 10th time we have presented this Annual Premiers Dinner, and it has never been more satisfying to share the highlights of the year with our people than it was tonight. Football and netball have changed considerably over the 10 years since the first of our Premiers Dinners, but to be able come together to celebrate our successes and achievements is a wonderful venture for us all. Well done to all the award winners, and congratulations to all of our Premiers.”
2010 AWARDS LIST
2010 Umpire of the Year
Casey O’Keefe
Warrnambool District Football Umpires Association
2010 Volunteers of the Year
Ray Patterson – Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club & Bill Kuys – Emerald Football Netball Club
These two men have been the backbone of their respective clubs.
One man has saved his club from the teeth of destruction – building it up to be the first in the VCFL to achieve Gold Standard in the AFL Quality Club program.
The other has built a club from the ground up, from a few youngsters running around for fun to a fully fledged new senior club playing in one of the top competitions in the state.
While they have not been alone in this work – it has been their passion and dedication that has seen the final results.
2010 VCFL Volunteer of the Year Finalists:
³ Bill Kuys – Emerald Football Netball Club
³ Maxine Parlby – Marong Football Netball Club
³ Shona Guest – Longwood Football Netball Club
³ Ray Patterson – Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club
³ Roy Brittain – Russell’s Creek Football Netball Club
AFL Merit Award
Val Hardie – Mornington Football Netball Club / MPNFL
Mornington Football Club would not be the success it is without the lifelong dedication of Val Hardie, and most likely neither would football across the MPNFL.
Val’s unwavering commitment to football and footballers on the Mornington Peninsula over 40 years has earned her the inaugural MPNFL Woman of the Year award, and now recognition from the AFL with this AFL Merit Award.
(Val pictured with CEO AFL Victoria Peter Schwab and CEO VCFL Glenn Scott)
2010 Most Disciplined Awards
Club – Sale City Football Netball Club – North Gippsland Football League
League – Mid Gippsland Football League
2010 League Recognition Awards
Major League - Central Murray Football League
District League - North Gippsland Football League
This season it has been determined to acknowledge leagues for their outstanding achievements and initiatives, as opposed to recognising individual administrators.
Realising that for leagues to excel in all areas of operations it takes not only quality administrators, but superior governance lead by a Board or Executive, hard-working and thorough effort by staff, and the ability to build and maintain exceptional relationships at club and umpire level.
The awards are highly sought after and are presented to an affiliated VCFL League who through sound management and good governance have initiated a range of programs and procedures that have demonstrated outstanding results in developing the game in their region for the benefit of all members and wider participants.
2010 VCFL Victor Sports VCFL Club of the Year
South Barwon Football Netball Club – Geelong Football League
“South Barwon FNC:
A leader amongst football clubs affiliated with the VCFL.
They have a range of programs and support mechanisms that seek not only to create success on the field, but to develop the potential of their members off the field.
They are a club that places focus on the welfare of their players and members, and are determined to see the development and participation rates continue to grow in a sustainable way.
They have a plan and a vision to continue to serve their growing population for many years into the future, and have established themselves as a strong voice in the local community.
South Barwon Football Netball continue to improve and operate at a ‘best practice’ level, and provide a great example as to the potential success of a football club in the modern climate.”
The finalists for the 2010 Victor Sports VCFL Club of Year were:
Emerald Football Netball Club – Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League
Undera Football Netball Club – Kyabram District Football League
South Warrnambool Football Netball Club – Hampden Football Netball League
Robinvale Football Netball Club – Sunraysia Football League
South Barwon Football Netball Club – Geelong Football League
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers – Mallee Football League
Maffra Football Netball Club – Gippsland Football League
Last Modified on 10/10/2011 11:20