Darley stalwarts awarded

The recent annual general meeting of the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) saw a number of items addressed to conclude the 2022 season, with the Keith Lawrence Service Award being presented to two Darley FNC members.

Vicki and Craig Baker have been involved with the Darley FNC for over 30 years, and were given the Keith Lawrence Service award at the BNFL’s recent AGM, which honours the legacy of long-serving BFNL volunteer Keith Lawrence.

Having played for more than 25 years across 416 games, Keith provided his knowledge and experience to the Sebastopol FC as secretary and later treasurer and president. In all, a total of 55 years’ service was provided by Keith in the administration and service of community football.

This year’s recipients of the award are well known across the wider BFNL community and are well deserved after themselves providing great service to their beloved Devils.

Craig Baker was 1995 premiership coach at the Devils, and was inducted as a Life Member in 1998, after 35 years of service including stints as Senior Coach, Committee Member, and Football Manager. He was awarded Best Clubman for many years, including 2022.

Vicki Baker is also a Life Member of the club, having served many years on the Committee, helped to establish both Junior and Senior level female football, served as Reserves Team Manager for more than six years, and as Under 18s Team Manager before that.

She was awarded Best Clubwoman in 2022.

The BFNL congratulated Vicki and Craig on being awarded the Keith Lawrence Service Award, saying the League is “lucky to have such dedicated and passionate volunteers at club level, combined with their work over many years assisting the league through interleague”.