Football Victoria (FV) would like to congratulate Wodonga Heart secretary Rose Martin on being awarded the 2022 VRGF Female Volunteer of the Year
The hard-working volunteer has been described as the glue that keeps the Wodonga Heart together with the array of positions she performs within the club.
Wodonga Heart Football Club was also awarded the regional club of the year as part of the 2022 Football Victoria Community Awards for its strong stance on inclusion, player development, and ensuring all players are welcomed.
Martin said she was “blown away” when she was told she was the recipient of the award.
“Being a volunteer means the world to me,” she said.
“I would do anything for Wodonga Heart.
“It’s all about a good family atmosphere and everyone enjoying soccer.”
Martin first started at the club in 2018 when her twin boys joined the club.
“We went to a come and try day in the school holidays and I just thought it was a great environment,” she explained.
“Then I started working in the canteen, the committee and now I have been on the executive committee for the past three years and it has just grown and grown.”
Martin said Wodonga Heart has seen such rapid participation growth this year due to a higher volume of volunteers willing to help the club.
“I am not the only volunteer we have a lot of other volunteers, our whole committee works so strong as a group,” she said.
“We help out everyone from aged five in the Miniroos program to players aged 55.
“If another team needs something we are always there to help them out.
“It’s a great club, we have a family atmosphere which is very inclusive, we run many multicultural programs and are trying to increase female participation in the sport.”
Fellow committee member Penny Wilson said Martin was a "well-deserving" winner of the Volunteer of the Year award.
“Rose has given up a huge part of her life in the winter months to help our club to the success it has achieved today,” she said.
“Rose holds many positions, and it is her energy and drive that has encouraged other members of WHFC, to build a bigger and better future for our club that is almost 10 years old.
“Rose has encouraged and supported all ability, multicultural and refugee players, and her open personality and welcoming nature provide the chance for all Australians to be included in our club and have the joy of playing with friends and the Heart Family.”
Head of Diversity and Inclusion Nick Hatzoglou said Martin was crowned as the 2022 Female Volunteer of the Year because of her commitment to ensuring the future of Wodonga Heart by taking on countless roles during her short time at the club.
"Rose is an extremely-deserving winner of the award as she puts her all into her club," he said.
"The community awards give us the chance to spotlight a handful of deserving volunteers, however, we would also like to acknowledge all the other hard-working volunteers of our football family who put in the hard yards every season."
Martin was presented with the 2022 Female Volunteer Award at the Community In Business Full-Time Luncheon on Friday, October 7.
The FV team congratulations Martin on her hard work and dedication, a worthy award winner, and a great role model for others in the community.
The awards are proudly supported by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. To learn more about how you can love the game, not the odds visit www.lovethegame.vic.gov.au