West Australian Football

WA Football has received a club level funding boost of nearly $120,000 to purchase equipment to support and assist the role of volunteers.

All community organisations across Australia were eligible to apply for the Federal funding totalling $21million. The grant is supplied through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHSIA).

WAROONA’S Robyn Sutton has described her four day stay in Melbourne as the “trip of a lifetime” after edging out nearly 300 other nominees in WA football’s 2009 RAC Volunteer of the Year Award.

While most people would jump at the chance to fly to Melbourne and experience the AFL Grand Final for free, it took Mrs Sutton and her husband a week to decide as neither had left the state or travelled on an aeroplane before.

PEEL District volunteer Robyn Sutton was named overall winner of the 2009 RAC Volunteer of the Year Award from almost 300 nominees during a gala presentation at last night’s WAFL Sandover Medal count (Monday, September 14).

After 20 years of dedicated service to Waroona Junior Football Club, Mrs Sutton was named Peel District finalist to represent the district as one of 17 award finalists. As overall winner of the RAC Volunteer of the Year Award, Mrs Sutton received a trip for two to the AFL grand final including flights, accommodation and a grand final breakfast function.

East Perth Football Club life member and volunteer Barney Solomon has been with the Royals for 45 years and at the age of 86 still gives his time to the club.

Mr Solomon was a cobbler by trade before he retired – a job which led him to the club.

Volunteers are the backbone of our great game, and underpin our competitions and environments throughout football in our state. Since the mid 80’s, the West Australian Football Commission has made "Volunteer Award" presentations to recognise those who have given long-term voluntary service to Australian Football at all levels.

In recent years these awards have formalized into the RAC WA Football Volunteer of the Year Award, now in its fourth year the prestigious award has been adopted nationally by the AFL.