VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Steve Cummings has held most positions at one time or another at the Augusta-Margaret River Hawks Football Club. He is the South West Volunteer of the Year and a candidate for WA’s Football Volunteer of the Year.
STEVE Cummings, Augusta-Margaret River Football Club’s hard-working Steve-of-all-trades and odd-job man, is the South West region’s Football Volunteer of the Year.
WA Football Commission football development manager, Shane Atherton, announced last week that Steve, who has been routinely nominated for the award in past years, would represent the South West football development region and was a chance to win the state award.
He was selected from 102 nominations from the region.
Steve and his wife Ros, along with the volunteer winners from the other 16 football development regions, will attend the Western Australia Football League Sandover Medal presentation night on Monday, September 17, where the state Football Volunteer of the Year will be announced.
The state winner and their partner will attend the AFL Grand Final, be part of the Grand Final Street Parade and Grand Final breakfast in Melbourne.
Mr Atherton described Steve’s list of involvement and achievement with the Hawks and junior and senior football as “extraordinary”.
It includes captaining the Hawks’ League team in 1996, coaching the League side in 98, 99 and 2000, team manager, runner, trainer, equipment co-ordinator, grounds manager and bar manager.
A club committee member, Steve has also been treasurer and represented the Hawks on the South West Football League committee and South West Regional Development Council.
“Steve coached at junior level and brought through a group of players who are now the core players at senior level. This hard work was no more evident than ... on the 2011 SWFL Grand Final Day,” Mr Atherton said.
“Augusta Margaret River Football Club played in the Colts, Reserves and League Grand Finals with the latter two teams taking the flag - the Colts narrow one-point runners-up, an unbelievable performance from a moderate-sized club and community,” he said.
“Steve is a great ambassador for football and his club – (he) sets high standards and expects the same from players and club members.
“He is extremely hard working - anything that needs to be done he will either do it himself or organise someone to do it.
“Steve is prepared to do anything from cleaning out changing rooms to negotiating with zoned WAFL club, players and coaches, and he does all this without a moan and always a smile on his face.
“As (Hawks) football manager in 2011 he was the driving force behind his club playing in the grand final in three grades.”
Ros Cummings said Steve, who is away working in northern WA, was “humbled but very pleased by the award”.
“He would never admit to it, because that’s not the reason he does the work, but I know that it means a lot to him that his contribution has been recognised,” Ros said.
