By Kate Withers
Michelle Whitehand has been announced as the NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year, after being recognised for her work with the Melton Saturday Centre at the 2016 AFL Victoria Community Football Awards last week.
Michelle was one of 24 Victorian NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year finalists who were honoured for their work in developing the future stars of our great game.
Michelle has served as the coordinator of the NAB AFL Auskick program at Melton for four years, and her tireless work recruiting new participants has seen numbers boom from 87 to over 130 this year.
An active ambassador for involving children in the program, Michelle is credited for going above and beyond in her pursuits to grow Auskick in Melton.
Regularly attending Auskick school assembly programs and promoting the program’s benefits, Michelle has even forged partnerships with local schools to introduce Auskick Scholarships in 2017. As part of the scholarship program, schools are encouraged to subsidise families requiring financial assistance so their children can reap the social and physical rewards of participating in the NAB AFL Auskick program.
Dedicated to helping grow NAB AFL Auskick participation numbers in the area, Michelle is meticulous in organising each and every session at the Melton Saturday centre. Children and their families are greeted with customised attendance books for each of the varying grade levels, and every one of the 10 coaches are prepared with detailed activity lists for the day.
Michelle presented the NAB AFL Auskick participants at Melton with a number of invaluable opportunities throughout 2016, including involvement in AFL half-time grid games and the chance to form a guard of honour for Western Bulldogs players in their Round 20 clash with North Melbourne.
Dedicated to ensuring NAB AFL Auskick participants have access to junior football pathways, Michelle has helped foster a close relationship with the Melton Bloods Junior Football Club, and on several occasions organised for U16 players to assist with coaching and running NAB AFL Auskick sessions.
Michelle has also helped with funding for the Melton Saturday centre with the management of a successful canteen and assistance organising and running the Melton Centre Trivia Night, which raised over $3000 in funds for new equipment
With her ongoing commitment to ensuring Auskick remains an accessible, inclusive and fun environment for children from all walks of life, Michelle has been commended by all involved at Melton, with many parents siting her involvement as the key to the program’s budding success.
For more information on the NAB AFL Auskick program, please CLICK HERE…
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