State and Territory Award Winners Announced
As part of the ongoing commitment to recognising the incredible effort our community football volunteers put in to run the game at a local level, the AFL is proud to announce the 2021 Toyota National Volunteer Award winners from all around the country.
All Auskick Centres, Schools, Community Clubs and Leagues were invited to nominate an outstanding volunteer as part of the Toyota AFL National Volunteer Awards.
AFL received over 600 Nominations nationally, recognizing the significant contribution our volunteers give to the game, right across the industry.
These volunteers may have contributed to the completion of a major or significant project throughout the year, gone above and beyond throughout Covid affected 2020 season or they may be someone who has contributed to a number of roles over a long period.
National Club and Volunteer Support Manager, Alex Burgin said that being able to recognise and reward our volunteers is critical to the ongoing success of community football:
"The AFL are so incredibly grateful to each and every one of our 220,000 community football volunteers, the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to progress our great game in various capacities – at community clubs, leagues and across every Auskick centre.
Through a difficult season in many states, the quality of nominations shows how local AFL clubs, are determined to continue working though the hurdles and achieve amazing outcomes and excellent AFL experiences for our community”
Congratulations to the truly deserving Volunteer of the Year Award recipients. The National Volunteer of the Year Awards are presented by Toyota as Premier Partner of the AFL, and as proud supporters of Australia’s game, men and women, young and old, from the grassroots to the elite.
National Winners will be announced in Mid-September.
| Toyota AFL Community Football Volunteer | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Kristy Smith - Balgowlah Suns |
| Northern Territory | Rebecca Dunbar - Darwin Buffaloes |
| Queensland | Cameron Wyatt - Brothers AFC (Rockhampton) |
| Tasmania | Lindsay Dobson - Yolla FC / Darwin FA |
| Victoria | David Folley - Caulfield Bears FNC - SFNL |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| AFL Junior Coach | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Phil Lane - Baulkham Hills Hawks |
| Northern Territory | Jason Grace - Southern Districts FC |
| Queensland | Pete Hutton - Coorparoo Junior AFC |
| Tasmania | Brad Willis - Kingborough (Junior) Football Club |
| Victoria | Bicola Tenabel - Ascot Vale Panthers JFC |
| South Australia | Leith Dawes - Mt Lofty Football Club |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| AFL Senior Coach | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Aaron Harvey - Glen Innes Celts |
| Northern Territory | Graham Christmas - Rovers FC |
| Queensland | Nick Malceski - Labrador AFC |
| Tasmania | Mitch Thorp - Launceston Football Club - TSL |
| Victoria | Daniel Nolan - Wallan-Riddell District FNL |
| South Australia | Wayne Knowles - Mannum Football Club |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| AFL Disability Inclusion Volunteer | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Liz Symes - Bathurst Giants |
| Northern Territory | Nathan Mac - Wellbeing Wednesday program |
| Queensland | Daniel Ramage - AFLQ Inclusion Programs |
| Tasmania | Suzanne Bowen - New Horizon Club |
| Victoria | Peter Willoughby - Monash Demons All Abilities - FIDA |
| South Australia | Gary Sutherland - Goodwood Saints FC, SANFL Inclusive |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| AFL Diversity Ambassador | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Ali Abdulatif - Bankstown Bullsharks |
| Northern Territory | Malcom Hales - Barunga School |
| Queensland | Mohammed Ansary - Merciful Servants |
| Tasmania | Graeme Gardner - Rocherlea FC |
| South Australia | Katy Javor - Australian Islamic College |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| AFL National Community Umpiring Service | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Ash Lamb - AFL Sapphire Coast Umpires |
| Northern Territory | Daryl Grahek - Katherine UA |
| Queensland | Jason Mitchell - SEQ Juniors |
| Tasmania | Damion Oxley - Tasmanian Football Umpires Assoc |
| Victoria | Ken Wegener - Sale Umpires Association |
| South Australia | Geoff Osborn - SANFL Junior Umpires |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| AFL Primary School Ambassador | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Darryl Howe - St Gregorys Campbelltown |
| Northern Territory | Eilish McCluskey |
| Queensland | Dave Beasley - Bayview State School |
| Tasmania | Damien Pursell - Ulverstone PS |
| Victoria | Danielle Coates -St Francis of the Fields Primary School |
| South Australia | Matt Bradley - Angaston Primary School |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| AFL Secondary School Ambassador | |
| New South Wales/ACT | James Sullivan - St Francis de Sales Leeton |
| Northern Territory | Ben Johns - NT Catholic |
| Queensland | Matthew Carroll - Marymount College |
| Victoria | Vicki Hoban - Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar |
| South Australia | Amanda Millar - Salisbury High School |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
| NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer | |
| New South Wales/ACT | Andrew Pyman - Fairfield Falcons |
| Northern Territory | Nick Twelftree - Banks FC Auskick |
| Queensland | Paul Higgs - Mayne Junior AFC |
| Tasmania | Dwayne Aherne - Ulverstone Auskick Centre |
| Victoria | Ben Hogan - St Bernards FC - Essendon |
| South Australia | Jenna Tiller - Crystal Brook Football Club |
| Western Australia | TBC – Named at Sandover Medal |
The Prizes:
The State/Territory Volunteers Award winners of each category receive:
- $200 Prize / voucher
- Certificate of recognition for significant contribution to the AFL
- Invitation to the Toyota AFL National Volunteer Awards online event, to be held mid-season.
The AFL National Volunteers Award winners of each category receive:
- Tickets to the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final for the AFL National Volunteer Award winners of each category + guest.
- Return flights (except Victoria) for the AFL National Volunteer Award winners of each category + guest.
** All prizes are subject to COVID-19 restrictions in each State / Territory, Government advice on travel and AFL grand final logistics. AFL Authorisation Code: GFAFL21/21
Other Great Ways to recognise your volunteers:
AFL Volunteer Certificate Recognition Program
Reward your volunteers by presenting them with AFL branded volunteer recognition certificates.
- Download certificate
- Right click and save the file to your computer
- Open the file using Adobe Reader
- Edit the Name and Date by clicking on the existing text and then typing the name of the person you wish to recognise and the date you want listed on the certificate
- Click file, save as to save the certificate to your computer
- You can then arrange to print these yourself or professionally through a local printing company (eg. Officeworks) and distribute as you wish
Volunteers’ motivation for continuing their involvement depends on their feeling of value and accomplishment. However, remember that some volunteers seek opportunities for public recognition and praise, but others may feel uncomfortable under such circumstances.
- Special awards for volunteers: volunteer of the month and of the year – presented at monthly meetings and the AGM or presentation nights.
- Articles on individual volunteers published in the club newsletter
- Hold social events at the beginning and end of each season for all volunteers
- Provide recognition certificates to every volunteer.
- Recognise long service to the club by awarding exceptional volunteers with life membership