Presidential pride: Rochester Football Netball Club president Justin Cleary (centre) with AFL Golburn Murray regional manager Shaun Connell and senior football coach Ash Watson. Rochester beat 30 national finalists to win the inaugural gong as the AFL Community Club of the Year.
Rochester’s resilience and courage was recognised on Thursday when the town’s football and netball club was crowned the inaugural winner of the AFL’s National Community Club of the Year.
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“This is tremendous recognition for a community that has been absolutely smashed,” Rochester Football Netball Club president Justin Cleary said.
Mr Cleary said he has amazed by the turnout at the first meeting of the club’s committee in the weeks after the October 2022 floodwaters had subsided.
“That was an amazing night. Thirty people turned up to that first committee meeting after the flood,” he said.
“This award is an absolute tribute to what we’ve been able to achieve this season, both on and off the field.”
Rochester was one of 30 national finalists, identified from the 2500 AFL commuity clubs eligible to win the award, which carries with it a three-day grand final week experience that includes a spot in the grand final parade, the glittering breakfast event and the match day itself.
Mr Cleary did not claim the prize package on the night, but is as deserving a figure as any to represent the Tigers on the big stage.
He said the number of initiatives and work that had been done by the club during the 2023 season had been amazing.
“Not only have we managed to be competitive, but the club has been a vibrant place thanks to some very special people,” he said.
Mr Cleary acknowledged Rochester Recreation Reserve committee of management chair Brendan Martin, who he described as “a guy who has done a power of work for this whole community”.
“He has worked tirelessly to see improvements to this facility,” Mr Cleary said.
He couldn’t resist sending a “very soft’’ backhander in the direction of Campaspe Shire Mayor Rob Amos, one of several dignitaries at the event, when he engaged in a conversation with the local government leader regarding the standard of Moon Oval’s lights.
“I’m glad Rob was here to see the lights,” he said, recognising the shire had kicked in a significant amount towards the $1.1 million project that will be completed before next season.
Mr Cleary also tipped his hat to tireless Rochester Ward councillor Paul Jarman, who had hosted the club after its Echuca match at one of his hospitality group hotels.
“Jarmo, you really have served your community fantastically,’’ he said at the awards ceremony.
“You have been amazing for this community and deserve not only our thanks, but the appreciation of this whole town.”
Mr Cleary said there were too many stories from the club’s Shout a Membership campaign to share on the night
Victorian Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh was at the evening alongside Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell (complete with yellow and black jacket), AFL Goulburn Murray general manager Shaun Connell, GVL board chair Jacqui Hudgson and league operations manager Jo Spencer.
Mr Connell said the community club of the year award was a unique national initiative which had required AFL Goulburn Murray to nominate a club.
“We only put one club forward, as did every other region in Australia. They shortlisted clubs and then chose from those nominations, which were from every state in Australia,” he said.
“Justin (Cleary, or whoever the club nominates) will now go down and experience three days of the grand final.”
He said the package included three nights’ accommodation at the Pullman and a breakfast, luncheon and grand final parade experience.
Mr Connell said there could have easily been a situation where Rochester just didn’t get up for the season, which was one of the major reasons for its nomination.
"What the club has achieved has been incredible,“ he said.
Tiger tough: State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell (centre) has become a regular visitor to the Rochester community and was at the AFL Community Club of the Year announcement on Thursday night, sharing in the celebration with club netball chief Katie Rasmussen and A-grade captain Bridgette Holt.
