INVERLOCH'S South Coast Stars Soccer Club has been awarded the Gippsland Soccer League's Club of the Year award for the South Division.
The award, which comes with a cheque for $1000 donated by Traralgon's TRFM radio station, was presented to committee member Roger Thorrowgood at a recent awards night held in Morwell.
Mr Thorrowgood handed on the award and cheque to club president Gene Parini at the Stars presentation day held at Outtrim Recreation Reserve last Sunday.
"We were only given short notice of the award by the GSL", said Mr Thorrowgood.
"So as it turned out I was the only committee member free to go over on the night.
"I have to admit to have being unsure what the award was actually for until it was presented, so I was very pleased to find that we were voted South Division's Club of the Year, and were also receiving a thousand dollars.
"And to cap it off we won a door prize for another $200, so it was a great night for the club".
Mr Parini extended his thanks to the GSL and TRFM for their acknowledgment of the hard work which has gone into establishing the club over the last two years.
He congratulated the senior women's team for battling through to their first win, and the men's team for finishing only two points short of second position in their inaugural year.
Also acknowledged on Sunday were Simon and Melissa Goldsmith, who took out the club's Volunteer of the Year award.
The club's main focus now becomes the move to Thompson's Reserve in Inverloch.
This will require considerable fund raising to go towards draining the playing surface so as to establish a year round facility for both the club and the town as a whole.
A fundraising dinner will be held on October 8 at Inverloch's Inlet Hotel, with a substantial raffle and door prizes on offer, along with music by local musician Col Mathews.
Enquiries can be directed to John at the Inlet Hotel, on 5674 1481.