By Trevor Jackson
THE SANFL handed out its community volunteers awards on Friday night at Adelaide Oval, with the South East high up in the honours.
Mid South Eastern Football League president Peter Mitchell received the Community Football Administrator of the Year, while his wife Naomi was presented with her 2020 merit award, after last year’s event was not held due to Covid-19 restrictions.
MSEFL football director Neil Webber received a Community Football Umpiring Zone award for his work, while the Glenelg Country Junior coach of the year went to Mount Burr’s Tim Little.
To top it off Clint Gallio received the Senior Community Coach of the Year Zone award for Glenelg, while Steph Contin was presented her award for SA Volunteer of the Year and Fiona Young received the nod for the Glenelg zone Auskick coordinator.
Speaking about the accolades, Peter Mitchell said he was pleasantly surprised by his award, which he never thought about receiving.
However, according to a SANFL statement he displayed outstanding leadership in handling fixture alterations due to border restrictions as a result of Covid-19 and is a passionate advocate for Interleague and Zone football, acting as Murray South East’s team manager since 2008 while remaining as an active voice in the Limestone Coast football review.
“Normally it is a secretary who wins it,” he said.
“Naomi won it in 2013 and I thought she might win it again.
“It has been going since about 2008 and there has never been a president who has won it.
“It was quite a nice surprise and very humbling.”
Mitchell said Webber’s award was a new introduction, which was well deserved for his work, while he said Little was recognised for all the work he does over at Mount Burr.
“Tim has been involved at Mount Burr for a number of years, has looked after their Junior Colts for quite some time and helped with all the juniors,” he said.
“He is pretty passionate about kids footy and has done pretty well.”
Mitchell was equally pleased for Gallio’s honours.
“Clint is passionate about his footy,” he said.
“He has been a long-time, passionate supporter of interleague, Zone and representative football.
“He is a nice bloke as well.
“He fully deserves the award for what he has done getting Millicent back to the top.”
Millicent claimed the premiership by just four points in 2018 but then failed to record a victory in 2019 without Gallio.
He returned in 2020 but no football was played due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year saw a stellar performance from Saints as they claimed a well-deserved premiership under Gallio’s tutelage.
Mitchell was quick to point out the mountain of volunteers who contribute to the successful running of the MSEFL, along with an excellent secretary.
“I am not being biased, but I think I have the best secretary in the country with Naomi,” he said.
“She does a fantastic job and it works well with both of us.
“Having been in the role for a number of years I have a pretty good understanding how to work with people and get the best out of them.
But I think the Mid SE has been pretty fortunate to have, not just me and Naomi, but others who have been good contributors too.
“There have been some marvellous people over the years.”
Peter and Naomi have been president and secretary for 13 years, with Naomi assistant secretary for two years prior to that.
Peter has received several other awards over the years, with life memberships for football and tennis.
He rates this as one of the highlights so far.
“I just never thought I would be in the running for it,” he said.
“But it is nice to be recognised by others and nice to be thanked when you do a good job.”
