Sheedy knows the value of volunteers
AFL legend Kevin Sheedy recently toured the Great Southern region of Western Australia to thank another type of legend – volunteers. During his visit as a Thank a Volunteer Day Ambassador, more than 600 people in the region were exposed to “Sheeds” through a range of civic receptions held in Denmark, Albany, Amelup (The Lily Dutch Windmill), Gnowangerup, Broomehill and Kojonup.
18 December 2008
Volunteers are the lifeblood of communities, and nowhere is their contribution more valuable than in regional Western Australia, where their work plays a central role in the provision of services and the building of strong and resilient communities.
We like to call them ‘legends’. So as ‘Thank a Volunteer Day' celebrations were being held across the world, Great Southern volunteers were thanked by another ‘legend', Kevin Sheedy of AFL football fame.
The former Essendon coach and player for Richmond toured the region on 3-5 December 2008.
The tour was part of a regional partnership between the City of Albany, Shire of Denmark, Shire of Cranbrook, Shire of Gnowangerup, Shire of Kojonup, Shire of Plantagenet, Great Southern Football Development Commission, Albany and Regional Volunteer Service, Skywest, the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Department for Communities.
As part of the tour, ‘Thank a Volunteer Day' celebrations were held in Denmark, Albany, Gnowangerup and Kojonup with support from each of the local shires.
Community, emergency service, youth, children and sport and recreation volunteers were invited to hear Kevin share his personal experiences with volunteers and of volunteering, as well as his life in and outside of sport.
Kevin's tour also saw him stop by a local farm owned by Gnowangerup Bulldogs Football Club volunteers and players, brothers Christian and Philip Rumble. Here he did a lap in a $600,000 header and took some crop off honouring those who "grow the grain and grow the game".
The visit also highlighted the affect of issues like drought and climate change on sport and 
recreation now and into the future, along with the importance of volunteers.
In Kojonup, Kevin met Nyoongar Elders and Indigenous youth at Kodja Place.
To add to the excitement, ABC South Coast and Great Southern teamed up with DSR for a competition giving two lucky volunteer legends a chance to join Sheedy on a scenic helicopter flight over the Stirling Range. The winners were Mr Michael (Mike) Allen of Katanning and Mrs Sharon Pither from Borden.
The station also supported a ballot-style draw giving Albany volunteers a chance to attend the Albany Thank a Volunteer Day breakfast celebration, which was held with support from the City of Albany.
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