Queenscliff recognised as AFL Victoria Club of the Year for their hefty contributions
From helping flood stricken communities to being the ‘heartbeat’ of their own, Queenscliff Football Netball Club has gone above and beyond. Plus, another member from the region has been recognised.
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Football and netball clubs give back to the local community, but none do so more than Queenscliff Football Netball Club.
The Bellarine league club has been recognised as the AFL Victoria Club of the Year for its work not only in the Queenscliff community but also for those who need it most.
AFL Barwon chair Michelle Gerdtz also took out an AFL Merit Award at the AFL Victoria Community Awards on Friday night for her hefty contributions, most notably in spearheading the lengthy restructure process in the Geelong and Bellarine competitions.
The hard work at Queenscliff FNC has been led by president Ali Waight, who even runs their social media page.
“It is fantastic for our club and it is a reward we can all hang our hat on. The success of a club is not only on the field or the court, so it is great to be recognised,” Waight said.
“Michelle was there (at the awards night) and she had no idea she was going to win an award so it was really exciting to see her. She is an amazing person in sport in Geelong and is just a powerhouse.”
Queenscliff FNC has contributed to indigenous communities in South Australia and the Northern Territory – donating boots and Coutas football jumpers – and also put their hands out to victims of the 2022 Victorian floods.
The club invites women impacted by the Rochester floods down to Queenscliff on several occasions.
It allows them to spend a few days on the Bellarine in conditions far better than the agonising situations some still find themselves in.
“We just recognise it is the right thing to do,” Waight said.
“Some of the Rochester women that are still homeless because of the floods, they have been coming down to Queenscliff. We do dinner for them, they come down for dinner and they get up and speak to our players and supporters so that has been really great as well,”
“They spend three or four days in Queenscliff and we host them for dinner and hear their stories.
“Even though their insurance has come through, because there is so many without homes it is just hard getting trade. So some of them are still living in caravans in the middle of winter at 70 years of age.
“It is really heartbreaking, so it has been really lovely to be able to host them and quite humbling for some of our footy and netball players who go home to warm beds every night.”
Along with this generosity Queenscliff FNC has risen from 230 social members to more than 600, hosting more than 300 meals each week.
That’s some pretty strong numbers for a seaside town with a population of 3560.
“We really are the heart and soul of our community down here in Queenscliff,” Waight said.
Originally published as Queenscliff recognised as AFL Victoria Club of the Year for their hefty contributions
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