Julie Porter
Julie Porter
Secretary & Junior Registrar
Football Queensland (FQ) is pleased to announce Julie Porter of Central FC Gladstone as the Volunteer of the Month for May.
As the winner for May 2019, Porter wins a $200 travel voucher courtesy of Flight Centre, Football Queensland’s official travel and accommodation partner.
Porter was nominated to the Academy of Awesome by club President Marty Emerson for her effort and commitment to the Central Queensland club.
“Julie’s contribution and dedication to our club is amazing,” says Emerson.
“From organising details for the upcoming games on the weekend to arranging for grant applications, Julie’s commitment to ensure the success of our club is fantastic.”
Porter is the Secretary and Junior Registrar of the club which are positions she’s held for several years.
Humbled to receive the Volunteer of the Month award, Porter says it’s a team effort to keep the club running smoothly.
“We’ve put in a great effort this year. One person on their own doesn’t do as well as a whole team together.”
It’s Porter’s passion in particular for growing female participation in football that’s making a significant difference within the club.
Whether it’s organising the club’s ‘Girls Only Come and Try’ days or hosting one of the upcoming Football Queensland Yeh The Girls Galas, Porter aims to encourage more girls to try the sport.
“They could have a turn at the sport without worrying about what the boys will think of them or whether they’ll push them over and take the ball away from them,” Porter says.
But that’s not all. Adding to her list of commitments, Porter is also a Bid Champion for Australia’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid.
“My role is to ensure that information [Australia 2023 Women’s World Cup bid] gets out into every nook and cranny including the small country towns throughout Queensland.”
When it comes down to her favourite part of volunteering, Porter says it’s seeing young kids enjoy playing while aiming for higher ambitions.
“There’s a couple of young girls at our club here, one of which is my daughter, who’ve done very well in the representative football field.
“There’s nothing that the young players like to see more. They like to have someone to aspire to.”