People choose Grubbers’ Jesse as outstanding volunteer

OCEAN Grove Football Netball Club’s Jesse Sutton is among six local sporting volunteers who received awards at the third Geelong Refinery Club Legend Awards.
Almost 4000 members of the community voted in the People’s Choice category, with the
awards being presented to Jesse and Cliff Grinter from St Albans Football Club.
Jesse, 21, who serves the club as a coach and social coordinator, has brought the members of the club closer through her social initiatives.
“I have been playing with Ocean Grove since u11 (2007/08), coached since 2013 and have been involved in the social committee since 2018,” Jesse said.
“Over the last few years we have had a big emphasis on bringing netballers and footballers together as one club.
“This year our social events included a meet and greet at the start of the year, then a rotating dinner going around to different houses having different meals – this is one of the players’ favourites, iPod shuffle night at the club, trivia night, mid-season ball, which is a more formal event, bogan bingo, reverse raffle and the end of season events such as presentation night.
“Next year I really want to focus on bringing more junior parents and families to social events to combine both parents and players.”
Jesse said she was so thankful for all her friends and family for their support of something she loved doing.
Viva Energy General Manager of Refining, Thys Heyns, said the awards evening was an
incredible celebration of the commitment that the finalists had given to their respective
clubs, and gave the community the opportunity to give thanks to those who volunteered a great deal of time to sport in the greater Geelong region.
“Volunteering is such a crucial aspect of life in Geelong, so it is great to have the chance to
celebrate the hard-working people who contribute so much to their clubs, their communities,
and their sports,” Mr Heyns said.
“Viva Energy is incredibly proud to recognise these incredibly deserving winners of each
category, as well as acknowledge all of the finalists and nominated volunteers.
“The sporting community of Geelong wouldn’t exist without these individuals, who are all legends in the eyes of their nominators, members and clubs they represent.”
Winners were chosen by a prestigious line-up of judges from the local Geelong community,
with each winner receiving a share of the $55,000 prize money for themselves and their
respective clubs.
Club Legends went to Allen McKee from Try Boys Basketball Clu, and Lorraine Kulic from Lara Giants Basketball Club, and The Trailblazer Awards went to Rohan Greaves from Geelong Touch Football and Sarah Naylor from Geelong West Giants.