By Peter Gunders
Click here for the VIDEO by ABC South Queensland
Ross Savill became an AFL Auskick coach when his son arrived home from school and expressed interest in playing a different kind of football.
Since that day he has been named Auskick volunteer of the year twice. But he says it is the off-field achivements that make him proud.
Half of his University Cougars squad is African-Australian and Savill says the game is helping bring the community together.
"There's some strengths in it where you don't go to a multicultural day and force anything," he said.
"These young people are very much part of this club and community."
And Savill's work with these kids does not stop with the final whistle of the season.
When he was approached by the Sudanese parents of some of his players who wanted assistance with homework, Savill organised a group of volunteers from his church to help out.
"We began with two families," he said.
"That's develped into 70 to 80 children now coming along every Tuesday afternoon.
"If we can help some of these kids achieve some goals, not just on the footy field but in life and education and in their families, that's really important."
Last Modified on 09/10/2014 15:14
