The AFL congratulates the community leaders and outstanding contributors to Australian football who have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours today.
AFL Commission Chairman Richard Goyder said the game acknowledged all those volunteer contributors around Australia who were recognised for their service to others today, and said Australian football was delighted that a number of long-term volunteers at community level, as well as leaders at senior level of the national competition, had also been honoured.
"The success of Australian football around the country is built on the service of volunteers, who give their time for others,” Mr Goyder said.
“I particularly want to call out today those people at the grassroots of our game who have been recognised for three, four and five decades of selfess contribution to their local football club, and to all those people who give their time to help the growth of our game.
“At the senior elite level, I do want to specifically acknowledge the magnificent contributions of Paul Briggs, Di Taylor and David Koch, as well as one of our oldest living premiership players in Bill McMaster, who were all recognised today.
“Paul has been chair of our Indigenous Advisory Council since its inception, as well as decades of work at community level to build the Rumbalara Football Club, while David and Di are directors with outstanding contributions at Port Adelaide and Geelong respectively, as well as their wider work in the community in their business lives.
“Paul, Di and David have each taken on enormous responsibility within our game for little recognition or thanks, and they are incredibly deserving of the honours they have received today. Bill McMaster, who will turn 94 next week, continues to be a marvel with the time he gives to his beloved Geelong Footy Club, more than 70 years after he won premierships as a VFL player.”
Mr Goyder said all volunteers to Australian communities were deserving of recognition and said football was delighted that the 2024 Australia Day Honours recognised people with service to junior football for girls and boys, club football, state league and AFL clubs, umpiring and umpire coaching, and the administration of the game.
2024 Australia Day Honours with a contribution to Australian Football:
AO
Paul Briggs – Service to the Indigenous community and sporting organisations, including as President of the Rumbalara Football Netball Club, Chair of the AFL National Indigenous Advisory Council, Board member of the Murray Football League and past chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Football Foundation. Jack Titus award winner.
Bruce Carter – Service to business, charity and the community, including 20+ years as an Adelaide Football League field umpire.
AM
Peter Duras – Service to Sports Physiotherapy and the community, including previous roles with the Essendon and Footscray Football Clubs.
Steve Harris – Service to Print Journalism, with his career including a previous role as CEO at Melbourne FC.
David Koch – Service to Media, with his career including service as President of Port Adelaide FC since 2012.
Dr Helen Parker – Service to Health Science and Physical Education, including a past role as a Commissioner of the WAFC.
Diana Taylor – Service to Australian Rules Football and the Geelong community, including senior board roles with Geelong Cats FC, the AFLW Competition, the VFL Tribunal and Appeal Boards and the Western Region Football League.
OAM
John Bligh – Service to Australian Rules Football, including 50 years with the North Shore FC and the Geelong Football League.
Michael Cooper – Service to Community Sport, including roles with the Darley FC and Sebastopol Football Netball Club.
Gail Eastaway – Service to the Community, including as a past secretary of the Cooma Cats AFC.
Trevor Fisher – Service to the Busselton Community, including as President and leadership roles with the Kojonup FC.
Lisa Hasker – Service to Sports Administration, including as Deputy Chair of the AFL Sports Ready Foundation.
Peter Hille – Service to the Community, including as a Past President and other leadership roles as a life member of the Fitzroy Reds FC.
The late Geoff Jones – Service to the Mildura Community, including the Sunraysia FL Umpires Association and Sunraysia FL administration.
Joanne Kwok – Service to the Bayside Community, including the Sandringham FC.
Anthony Lewis – Service to Sport, including 45 years as a life member, player, coach and administrator of the NSW Central West League and club roles with St Patricks JFC, North Albury FC, the Bathurst Eagles and Bushrangers FC.
Bill McMaster – Service to Australian Rules Football, as a past premiership player, senior coach, board member, life member of the Geelong Cats FC and past roles in the Hampden League and Mininera League.
Diane Ranck – Service to the Community, including as a volunteer with South Adelaide FC.
Craig Scott – Service to the Community, including as a life member and past President of Goodwood Saints FC.
Nick Swingler – Service to Australian Rules Football, including 40+ years as Head Trainer / Medical Coordinator at Sturt FC.
Jack Synnott – Service to the Community of Cygnet, including as a past President, vice-president, committee member and senior coach of the Cygnet FC.
Michael Tehan – Service to the Goulburn Valley Community, including senior roles with Goulburn Valley League.
Catherine Walker – Service to Education and the Community, including the Yass Football / Netball Carnival Committee.
