DONNYBROOK Football Club’s Rod Atherton has been named winner of the South West Region Volunteer of the Year.
Mr Atherton has 42 years service with the club, with the most recent being as President.
He has also served in roles including Football Director, Senior Coach, Junior Coach, Social Director, SW Region AFCA Co-ordinator, Tribunal Delegate, SWFL Club Delegate, WAFL Club (East Perth) Liaison Officer, Sponsorship Director, Game Day Ground Manager, Bar Staff, Junior Team Manager, East Perth Development Squad Coach and Selector and Time Keeper.
He is a life member of the club, a past player and as well as following his son’s football careers, he also had a stint as a player and coach at Collie.
He was a member of the Donnybrook Apex Club from 1968-1979, and served as President; he was also President of the Donnybrook Basketball Association from 1995-1996.
“I think my community service background stems from growing up at Lowden, near Donnybrook, in a small community consisting of a general store, a school, and a railway siding. Everyone in that district had the expectation that community events would be supported by everyone,” Mr Atherton said.
Nominations for Mr Atherton to win the award said he had been and still was the heart and soul of the Donnybrook Football Club (DFC) for nearly 50 years.
“He is a tireless worker and not only for his club but has assisted at League (SWFL), District (SWRFDC) and WAFL (East Perth) level. In a small country town volunteers like Rod are crucial to a football club which in turn is such a crucial part of the town and as well as his service Rod is an outstanding person who is easy to work with and is respected right across the entire region,” the nomination said.
Mr Atherton and his wife Annette have also supported and followed the playing career of two sons between 1974 and 2004.
As a football director, Mr Atherton was an integral part of the DFC’s unprecedented success, playing in five consecutive SWFL Grand Finals (1997 – 2001) and winning three premierships in succession (1998-2000).
When he assumed the role of DFC Club President in 2012, the club was in severe financial hardship. He set about getting local business, state and local government funding and has overseen a $100,000 clubroom extension project, including a new commercial grade kitchen, which has assisted to restore the club’s financial resources.
Mr Atherton was awarded DFC Life Membership in 2002.