Case takes the cake

DRYSDALE Football Club vice-president Jess Case has been awarded statewide honours for her significant work in the mental health and wellbeing space.

Ms Case was awarded the Tackle Your Feelings Mental Health Community Champion Award for Victoria.

Tackle Your Feelings is a free mental health training program for players, community AFL coaches, as well as committee members and other club support staff.

The organisation selected community champions from each state who demonstrated impact through mental health initiatives and promoted safety and inclusivity within their club.

Since becoming vice-president at Drysdale, Ms Case has driven structural change at the club and helped established a wellbeing committee.

She secured mental health first aid training for the clubs’ trainers and promoted road safety through the TAC Road Safety Round.

Ms Case also helped lead the delivery of a Tackle Your Feelings session throughout the 2024 season at Drysdale FNC.

Tackle Your Feelings said the Drysdale volunteer had helped foster a culture of inclusivity, support, and community in her local community.

Ms Case said she was thrilled to take out the award.

“It is an honour to be awarded the Tackle Your Feelings Award for 2024.

“Obviously at the Drysdale Football Netball Club, mental health is incredibly important to us.

“With that in mind, president Trevor Hume and I initiated and worked on a few key initiatives in this domain.

“We established a wellbeing committee which comprises of some incredible people down here, held a Tackle Your Feeling session at the club and more.

“Tackle Your Feelings is a very important organisation and we were so proud to support them and their messaging this season.”