By Lance Jenkinson
Footscray Hockey Club has taken out the prestigious Hockey Victoria community club of the year award.
The Bulldogs beat out more than 60 clubs to take out the honour at Hockey Victoria’s night of nights last month. The award is for excellence in community development work.
Footscray is a massive club with 620 players and 53 winter season teams, including teams ranging from under-6 to over 50s.
Brendan Sheehan, who has been involved with the Bulldogs for more than 40 years, said the club was “well aware” of its responsibility to the community.
Footscray has focused on three key areas as part of its inclusion and diversity charter.
The Bulldogs run focus weekends, which promote men’s health, women in sport and anti-homophobia.
Their hockey-for-all approach includes an access all abilities program and as a result the Bulldogs have become one of the go-to clubs to introduce hockey to people with disabilities.
Footscray’s other main focus is its outreach program, with an emphasis on growing the sport in Vietnam. With Footscray’s rich Vietnamese heritage, the Bulldogs provide sports administration skills, equipment and uniforms for the Ho Chi Minh City Hockey Association.
Footscray’s junior program supports the West Welcome Wagon, donating food and other non-perishable items to asylum-seeking families living in Melbourne’s west.
Some local players were also acknowledged for their starring roles on the field.
Carly James, Olivia Colasurdo and Sarah Breen and Altona’s Danielle Schubach were named in the women’s premier league all-star team, while Footscray’s Casey Hammond and Altona’s Andrew Scanlon made the men’s premier league all-star team.
Footscray’s Phil Merriman was named coach of the year in the men’s premier league.
