Dedicated: Chris Antonie, pictured running an Auskick class earlier this year, is in the running to win the NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year award.
SEVEN local rising hockey stars will take to the field for North West Lightning in the state championships this weekend. Tully Shields, Alexandra Caldecott, Adrienne Tracy and Ben Massey (back), along with Cassie Barko, Melinda Casey and Tom Holmes (absent) will represent Sunraysia for the country squad in Bendigo from Sunday through to Tuesday, against the best young hockey players across the state.
CHRIS Antonie has been named the regional winner of the NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year for Sunraysia.
Antonie won the award in recognition for his commitment to the Merbein Junior Football Club.
Antonie is one of 97 NAB AFL Auskick volunteers from around Australia to receive the award.
The NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year will be announced in Melbourne on AFL Grand Final day next Saturday.
The winner will receive $5000 and a trip of a lifetime to Europe with the 2013 AIS-AFL Academy.
Chris said it would be great to take out the national award.
“That would be very nice to win,” Antonie said.
“It’s great for the club to be recognised and for the hard work they put in.”
Antonie said he enjoyed watching the junior players develop their skills.
“It’s good for the parents to bring their kids along and their kids develop and learn about mateship,” he said.
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday's Sunraysia Daily 22/09/2012.