Football Queensland (FQ) and NAB are proud to announce John Sketchley of Buderim Wanderers FC as the winner of the NAB Volunteer of the Month award for July.

Sketchley, who is almost 81 years old, started volunteering at the Sunshine Coast club last year and helps out twice a week, undertaking tasks such as marking lines and setting up fields.

What makes Sketchley’s dedication to the Wanderers so captivating is that he has no family members at the club and only became involved when his friends’ children started playing at the club.

Now Sketchley is not only recognised as the number one supporter of Buderim’s Under 14s team (the team whom his friend’s children play for) but also as a role model and an inspiration for everyone involved at the Wanderers.

Buderim Wanderers Under 14s parent Danielle Schaumburg nominated Sketchley to NAB’s Academy of Awesome for his selfless dedication to the club and the local community.

“He marks lines, sets up fields, puts in flags, sets out chairs and just does anything that is asked of him,” she said.

“I can’t explain what it is like to have an 80-year-old, almost 81, it’s his birthday next week, as such an important mentor and role model to all the kids here at the club.

“He talks to them before games and he’s always there to give them a pat on the back after games as well.”

Schaumberg was overjoyed to see his dedication recognised but Sketchley was shocked by the honour.

“It took me by surprise,” he admitted, when he first found out he’d won.

“There are so many volunteers, certainly in Queensland and certainly on the Sunshine Coast, that I am sure are more worthy of this award than I am, but I feel very humbled.”

A former naval man, Sketchley credits his time at sea for shaping his community-centric attitude.

“The community spirit in the navy and how we run our crews, maintaining discipline, while also being very caring, it’s stood me in good stead for community work here,” he said.

Most of all though, Sketchley was eager to use the spotlight to pay tribute to all the people at Buderim Wanderers, especially the players he watches every week with such pride.

“I’ve found the kids, certainly at the football, are very polite”, he said.

“They are all great to talk to, very grown up and know where they’re are going”.

“They’re just nice people to be around and I find, especially at my age, mixing with the youngsters these days, it gives me a big boost.

“Their parents are extremely friendly and I just find that the whole community spirit up at the Buderim Wanderers club is out of this world.”

Is there a volunteer at your local club who should be recognised for the time they dedicate to football? Nominate someone for the NAB Volunteer of the Month here.

Words: Samuel Johnson

Football Queensland (FQ) and NAB are pleased to announce Paul Knight of Samford Rangers FC as the winner of the NAB Volunteer of the Month award for June.

Knight is a volunteer coach for the Samford Rangers U9 Roar ALDI MiniRoos team, who he has coached for the past three seasons.

He recently returned to playing himself, pulling on the boots for Rangers’ Over 35s Division 4 team – the first time he’s played since he was 11-years-old.

Knight is loved by both his young players and their parents, who have recognised his dedication to making sure all his players achieve their best while having fun.

Samford Rangers U9 parent Bradley Stock nominated Knight to NAB’s Academy of Awesome for his ability to inspire and encourage his players, as well as make the parents feel like a welcome part of the team.

“Paul’s pep talks before games, at half time and after the game are legendary,” he said.

“He has an amazing attitude, skill and energy and every week he turns up early with a smile on his face and an infectious positive attitude.

“He’s a blessing to the entire team and a brilliant role model for coaches, referees and parents alike.”

Samford Rangers U9 parent Jason Bow agreed, saying Knight has fostered a great sense of team camaraderie.

“Paul’s passion and commitment to the team is nothing short of amazing,” he said.

“He has the ability to inspire and motivate the team, while developing skills that encourage both teamwork and individual brilliance.

“He does all this with significant respect for his players, parents, officials and opposing teams.”

Knight is equally popular with his young U9 ALDI MiniRoos players, who have retained the skills they’ve been taught and effectively implemented them in their games under his guidance.

As a result, his team has improved from week to week and is achieving success on the field.

“They are wonderful kids to coach, we are like a family,” Knight said.

“It is more than just football. I encourage the kids to express their natural talents, play with flair and enjoy the game, teach them to never give up and always show respect and to shake hands with the opposition win, lose or draw.”

Knight, who uses Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) National Curriculum and YouTube videos of drills from England and Brazil for inspiration, thanked those around him for their support.

“I also have great support from the team manager Janna Roop and assistant coaches Lance Webb and Larry Ellis,” he said,

“I couldn’t do this without them and the support of the parents.

“I have also had strong on-the-ground support from Samford Rangers’ technical development team.”

This year is Tracey’s 20^th year at the club where she began volunteering as her eldest son’s team manager, before going on to work as the Clubhouse Convener and Canteen Coordinator for the last 15 years.

As the Clubhouse Convener and Canteen Coordinator, Tracey has put in countless hours of volunteer work over the last decade including organising the club’s merchandise and canteen, taking registration payments, cleaning the clubhouse and supporting committee members in all duties within the club.

Gatton Redbacks FC Secretary Carley Logan said she nominated Tracey due to her willingness to always help out at the club wherever necessary.

“She goes above and beyond to help us out, we would be lost without her. She is a great asset to our club” she said.

Tracey said the NAB Volunteer of the Month award came as a surprise.

“Really shocked actually, and humbled,” she said when asked how she felt about receiving the award.

Over the years Tracey’s whole family has been involved in the club, with both her sons playing in the mens team and both going on to marry women who also play football.

Now the next generation of Tracey’s family has joined the club, with her grandson starting in under 6s this year with his father as coach and his mother as team manager.

Tracey’s eldest son is also still involved in the club as the Vice-President of the Executive Committee this year.

When asked about her favourite part of volunteering at Gatton Redbacks FC, Tracey said it was the family nature of the club that she loved the most.

“I think just the family aspect of the club, it’s very family-orientated and it’s great meeting new people every year that come to the club,” she said.

“A lot of us have been there for a long time.

“We’ve got a really good group of core volunteers at the club.”

Volunteers are at the heart and soul of community football and without them, the game would fail to exist.

Football Queensland (FQ) and NAB are pleased to announce Wayne Borellini of Proserpine Taipans Junior Soccer Club as the winner of the NAB Volunteer of the Month award for April.

A player, coach and volunteer at the club across more than 30 years, Borellini has been involved for so long he’s now coaching children of parents he coached when they were Taipans juniors.

Borellini has coached every age group at Taipans at some point and is currently the volunteer coach of his youngest daughter’s Under 14s team.

“There are a few parents that I’ve coached and now their kids are coming through,” he said.

“I like watching the kids develop, to see how far they can go. If they’re committed and if they’re good enough, I tell them they can go anywhere in the world.

“But as long as they’re enjoying it, that’s the main thing.”

Borellini was nominated to NAB’s Academy of Awesome by the club’s treasurer and registrar, Maria Sala, who described him as a club stalwart.

“If something needs to be done around the club, we ring Wayne,” she said.

“As well as coaching, he’s a linesman, a handy man fixing bits and pieces, sorting goals and nets and ferrying kids around to game and training left, right and centre.

“If it’s anything to do with football, he’ll do it. This is all while he operates his building carpentry business and cane farms.”

Borellini said the NAB Volunteer of the Month award came as a surprise.

“It does give me a bit of a warm feeling [to win] but I don’t do it to be recognised, you’ve got to do your bit for the community,” he said.

“You find time for the things you love. Being around the club keeps me young, fit and healthy.

“Our town is mostly a rugby league town, so our football community is quite tight-knit.”

Is there a volunteer at your local club who should recognised for the time they dedicate to football? Nominate someone for the NAB Volunteer of the Month here.

Football Queensland (FQ) and NAB are pleased to announce Capricorn Coast Football Club’s Scott Reece as the winner of the NAB Volunteer of the Month award for March.

Mr Reece, 42, volunteers for a number of roles across the Yeppoon based club, including junior coaching and development, coordinating the men’s community teams and refereeing games.

Capricorn Coast Football Club president Kerry Gray nominated Mr Reece for the NAB Academy of Awesome because of his sheer tenacity and tireless efforts.

“Scott became a life member of the club at the end of last year and has helped coach a number of junior teams, helps coordinate our men’s community teams, referees games on Saturdays and generally helps with any little thing that needs doing,” Mr Gray said.

“He has also given up his time over the summer to help develop a junior academy for our club.

“He just gets in there and gets things done. You can always guarantee after coaching and refereeing games, he will be down helping take the nets off the goals and packing up for the day.”

Mr Reece, an electrician, said he was thrilled but surprised to win the award.

“You just sort of do this kind of thing, not for recognition, but for the kids and the club,” he said. “It’s a surprise for sure.”

Mr Reece said he doesn’t think too much about volunteering, he just knows people need to play their part to build community clubs.

“The club is a not-for-profit, without volunteers it certainly wouldn’t run,” he said. “It’s the passion the club has got which makes you want to volunteer.

“I do the volunteering, not for the club specifically, but for the kids.

“The kind of area it is, a lot of parents go away for work. Mums and dads go out of town and if it wasn’t for the volunteers, it wouldn’t happen.

“To see the kids develop and the club be healthy is totally the reward in itself.”

Mr Reece said Capricorn Coast Football Club has approximately 300-400 players.

“The committee, the president and everyone else is made up of volunteers,” Mr Reece said. “We are struggling for coaches for junior teams and there are some great parents who have put their hands up.

“With some more experience we can provide mentoring for those guys at grassroots as well.”

Clubs have a way of building community, and Mr Reece said his club is a great example of passion people working together and the benefits of which are felt across the town.

“It’s a community sport, it teaches people things about life as well,” he said.

“If you work hard, you get rewards. It’s the foundation for life as well, teamwork, support, community.

“You go to a lot of these remote communities, who have fly-in fly-out parents, and their sporting communities have disappeared due to it.

“If we have communities as a home base with healthy sporting clubs, it’s a benefit to the whole community.

“That community spirit and that support is here. That passion keeps us going.”

Michelle Jones, from The Lakes Football Club, is the February winner of NAB Volunteer of the Month and second inductee into the Academy of Awesome.

Mrs Jones was nominated by her club as an outstanding volunteer and recognised for her willingness to help, community spirit and push to improve female participation. A timely winner during rebel Female Football Week (March 2-10).

Michelle, a teacher’s aide who has volunteered at the club for five years, said she was embarrassed to have received the award.

“I don’t volunteer for recognition,” Michelle said. “We volunteer because we love it.”

“I was a parent on the sideline, I was asked to help manage a team, then I was asked to join the committee because they wanted more female representation, now it’s my second or third year on that.

“I have four kids, I’m very busy but I absolutely love it. It keeps me active, it keeps my brain active.

“It (volunteering) creates a good role model for your kids, they see you give something for free, and I’m trying to teach my kids that helping people out without expecting anything, is what we do as good humans.”

The Lakes FC secretary Neil Kinsela, and vice-president Glen Kinsela, nominated Michelle because of her impressive work ethic and attention to detail.

Mrs Jones has been instrumental in organising the equipment and jerseys for the club’s 700 players, and in helping kick off the junior women’s football.

She volunteers her time and juggles a busy life with a husband and four children.

“She always helps everyone out. She’s just always there,” Neil Kinsela said.

“People like Michelle are what move football clubs forward.”

 

 

Football Queensland and NAB are pleased to announce Redlands United Football Club secretary Kristine Godden as the winner of the NAB Volunteer of the Month award for January.

Mrs Godden was nominated to NAB’s Academy of Awesome by her club as an outstanding volunteer and has been recognised for her drive, willingness to help and community spirit.

Redlands United Football Club president Andrew Bradley said Mrs Godden deserved the award because of her fundraising efforts in particular.

“Kristine has been a member of this club for five or six years,” Mr Bradley said. “She recently joined the committee as club secretary and has taken on fundraising, and re-energised that part of the club.”

Mr Bradley said Mrs Godden has shown initiative in building the club.

“She’s very busy with her two kids, she has a new job she just started, and there’s the usual stuff as a mum, but she’s always the first to put her hand up. She’s focused, if she wants something done, she drives it to the point it happens.

“Whether it’s organising a barbecue at Bunnings, or picking up stray balls, she’s always the first to volunteer. Other than that, she’s just a really good egg.”

The Godden family moved to Brisbane from New Zealand ten years ago and have been involved with Redlands United Football Club for the better part of that decade.

Mrs Godden said she received a phone call from the Redlands United Football Club president, warning her she had been nominated.

“He gave me a call last week and said he nominated me, and I was pretty excited about that,” she said. “He said, that’s not even the best news, you’ve won.”

Mrs Godden said she was very exciting to be recognised and while she is not a footballer herself, volunteering enabled her to spend more time with her family.

 “I’d been involved (with Redlands United FC) on and off for years, on the fundraising committee, Bunnings barbecues, raffles, working bees, whatever needs to be done gets done,” she said.

Mrs Godden is also manager of her son’s team, who plays centre midfielder for the club’s under-13s, her daughter, 15, is right fullback for the senior women, and her husband is centre defender for the over-35s.

“My entire family is involved in it, so it’s a great way I can spend extra time with them,” Mrs Godden said. “Why not invest my time into the club, because at the end of the day it helps my family out, and the club.

“It all helps the other kids too, their parents and the club, so it works out well.”