By ANEEKA SIMONIS
PAKENHAM Football Club president Steve Moloney said it was the tireless efforts of club volunteers who threw themselves behind countless community campaigns that won the club Cardinia Shire’s Community Organisation of the Year Award.
“The whole footy club is to thank,” he said.
“Everyone does a little bit in their own way. We are truly blessed to have our army of volunteers. Without them there would be no Australia Day Award. It’s their award,” he said.
The Pakenham Football Club was selected out of six award nominees including Neighbourhood Watch Cardinia, Pakenham Parkrun, WAYSS, Nar Nar Goon and District Playgroup and MidWay.
The local club is an active community group, involved in the Pakenham RSL Anzac Day ceremony, the White Ribbon Foundation, the Motor Neurone Disease Foundation, Beyond Blue and the Zaidee Rainbow Foundation.
“It’s not just a place for blokes to get together and have a drink… it’s a lot more than that,” Mr Moloney said.
The club was also presented top national honours for community football in the 2015 Fox Footy Club Rewards Gold Tier awards.
Mr Moloney said the club, which takes in Pakenham netballers and Auskick players, boasts more than 600 members – a captive audience to spread the word on positive projects playing out in the community.
“We are so lucky in Pakenham. The culture of volunteering is alive and well,” he said.
The award was handed down to the club at the Australia Day Award ceremony at Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham, on Tuesday 26 January.
