By Emily Chapman Laing
Berwick North Tornados Junior Fooball Club Secretary Amara Sullivan has been named the Melbourne Football Club and South East Juniors Volunteer of the Month.
To thank her for her hard work and commitment, Amara was invited to Casey Round at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday 23 July, where she took part in a once in a lifetime, pre-match experience from the boundary line.
Despite being a Hawks fan, Ms Sullivan was excited to win the VIP pass to the MCG.
“My girlfriend and I were on the boundary line while Melbourne were warming up,“ she said.
“We were down there just watching them, so that was nice.
“They did make me feel really special.“
Ms Sullivan has been with the Berwick North Junior Fooball Club for five years, after her son began playing in the club’s Under 8’s team.
“I joined the committee then, and the secretary at the time had been there for about ten years, her kids had finished playing, so I put my hand up,“ Ms Sullivan said.
Ms Sullivan has been the club Secretary now for three years, and her role is varied.
“I do everything from sorting stuff on the back end with the teams and player, to fundraising and social events as well,“ she said.
“I pretty much do everything.“
Being a small club makes her job a “bit easier“, but Ms Sullivan said it also makes it harder to find volunteers.
“Every Sunday you’re down at the ground setting up and then you’re packing up,“ she said.
“After the footy season finishes you’re always thinking about next year, about coaches and getting players coming in to have enough teams.
“It’s very busy.“
For the past two years, the club has been dealing with a broken scoreboard, and Ms Sullivan has been heading fundraising efforts.
“We do fundraising or ask the council, you know, trying to get money for grants to pay for these things,“ she said.
“But really it’s just all about the kids, that’s why we all do it.“
Ms Sullivan has two children playing for the club, so her priority is keeping the club running so her kids have a place to engage in a sport they find fun.
“Even though our teams don’t win every week, the kids are out there having fun,“ she said.
“All they want to do is kick the footy.
“At our club we pride ourselves on the fact that every kid gets to play, it doesn’t matter on their ability, every kid gets out there.“
Members of the Melbourne Football Club will be joining the Berwick North teams on Thursday followed by the club’s trivia night at the Old Cheese Factory on Saturday 29 July.
