In 2010, the NAB AFL Auskick program on the Darling Downs reached a new record of 1700 plus participants participating in the grassroots program. The nationwide program provides local primary school aged participants with an exciting 8 week program that has the participants learning the basics of Aussie Rules, while receiving limited edition benefits along the way also.
One man in particular stood out from the rest and was recently nominated for the AFL Queensland Auskick Co-ordinator of the Year, for his tireless efforts in the running of the Rangeville Centre and USQ Cougars Centre for many years. This man was Ross Savill; Ross was awarded and recognised as the 2010 AFL Queensland NAB AFL Auskick Co-ordinator of the Year at the AFL Queensland Coach and Volunteers Awards night recently held in Brisbane.
Ross, for many years has been the driving force behind the Rangeville Auskick centre and Rangeville has a long history of being the Darling Downs largest centre and has a high retention rate largely due to the quality program that Ross has run over many years. Rangeville had 100 participants in 2010 and Ross convened the entire program during Term 1.
Ross has a great structure within his co-ordination as he has several Under 16 University Juniors and Church members assisting him with the delivery of the program every week. Ross has a magnificent repour with children of all ages and has been the driving force behind the transition of Auskick participants to the University Cougars JAFC for many years and the major reason behind the University Cougars having the highest Under 8 and 10 registered players of any club on the Darling Downs.
Not only did Ross agree to run the mammoth project of managing the Rangeville Centre but also wanted to take on the running of the USQ club based program, for term 2 this year.
Ross’s delivery of the program is first class and a credit to himself as well as being a great reflection of the University Cougars JAFC.
Ross has been a Youth Minister for over 20 years on the Darling Downs and Ross was originally trained in social work; he was also awarded with an Honorary Diploma by the Australian College of Ministries in recognition of his contribution to Church Based Youth Work. Ross leads Youth groups, disciple’s dozens of Youth Leaders, teaches religious education in schools and plays a key role in Sunday services at Humeridge Church in Toowoomba.
As well as all of this, Ross is always first person at the USQ Club on a Saturday morning setting up the Junior Under 8’s and 10’s games and helps umpire every weekend. Ross has a great love for the game and this infectious characteristic rubs off on all youngsters he takes under his wing learning the game.
Ross is a great promoter of Australian Rules football on the Darling Downs and in particular the NAB AFL Auskick program. Once again congratulations to Ross Savill and big thank you to all the hard work he has done for the program in the region and let’s hope it last for many years to come.
Photo: Ross Savill at the AFL Queensland Coach and Volunteers Awards night with his Auskick co-ordinator of the Year award
Last Modified on 14/01/2011 11:03
