Peter Conheady wins Heart Volunteer Awards Sport category

In his 32 years of volunteer service for Camperdown Football Netball Club, the achievement that makes Peter most proud is something that happened off the pitch.

Camperdown Football Netball Club volunteer Peter Conheady. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Peter Conheady has cheered Camperdown Football Netball Club to two premiership wins, and been on hand to help at Leura Oval for weekend games and weeknight trainings for the past 32 years.

The long-time volunteer has held nearly every role at the club, from water boy to club president.

But it’s what happens after the teams leave the pitch that makes him most proud.

On the sidelines of Camperdown’s home ground sits a big new function centre, complete with commercial kitchen and dining room, which Peter calls the club’s “social home”.

It’s a place where not only the players and supporters can celebrate or commiserate after games, but somewhere the whole community can feel welcome to gather, relax and reconnect.

Peter played an integral role on the volunteer committee that pushed the building project from concept to completion a decade ago, with financial support from the local council and the Federal Government.

“Being involved in that was one of the greatest highlights I have had,” says Peter, 50, who is the function centre manager – another volunteer role.

“To walk in there on a Thursday night and see between 200 and 300 people sharing each other’s company in a facility that you had a hand in creating; it is very rewarding.”

Peter began volunteering for the club in 1989, at age 18, and in the years since has devoted many hours to behind-the-scenes work for both the Magpies and his town.

He contributes to the local pastoral and agricultural society, RSL branch, parents association of his daughters’ school and the wider Hampden Football Netball League, with support from his wife, Donna, and daughters, Sophie and Maggie.

He says volunteering is his way to give back to the Camperdown community.

“The football netball club is the heartbeat of so many small communities,” Peter says. “At the time I was president, we fielded six football sides each weekend and eight or nine netball sides. For that to happen we had 123 volunteers.

“That involvement with that network of people, and the camaraderie and mateship you create, is certainly why I, and I’m sure a lot of other people, keep turning up week after week after week.”

Peter’s drive to make sure Camperdown Football Netball Club is a place where the entire community feels at home makes him this year’s deserving Sport Volunteer winner.

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