AS a long time sporting volunteer herself, Jan Mannes is determined to offer as much assistance as possible to those who give up their time to help run Heathcote District Football-Netball League clubs.
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Mannes is two weeks into her new role as HDFNL manager, taking over from Trevor Arnel, who previously spent 14 years in the role.
“I have been a volunteer in the sporting industry since I was 19 years old at both club and association level,” Mannes said.
“I’ve also previously been the regional co-ordinator with Netball Victoria for the north, which was an area that went up to Hay, across to Mildura, down to Horsham and as far as Maryborough and Gisborne, so I’ve really touched base with the volunteers at grassroots level and understand the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in a football-netball club.
“Taking on this role is exciting because this is my home league where I live, where my girls have played, where I have family connections and this is like coming home and being able to support our volunteers.
“I want to be able to help them in any way I can to make their life easier and I’m really keen to see the HDFNL rise.
“I’ll make mistakes along the way, but I’m really keen to take on anyone’s thoughts and ideas and totally understand that people are passionate about their clubs, and so they should be or they are in the wrong game.”
As well as Mannes taking over the role of manager, the league also has a new chairman for 2018 in Peter Cole, who has taken over from Leo Demeo after his three-year stint.
“We’ve put a bit of a broom through most things at board level and are using this year as a bit of a re-start,” Cole said.
“One of the things we’ve already been able to do is increase our sponsors… we’ve got three major sponsors and four minor sponsors and we’ve been out talking to the clubs.
“Sustainability is a big issue at under-17 and reserves level, so we’ve been working with the clubs and will continue to do so, and we’re increasing our junior participation with extra inter-league games, which is exciting.”
The HDFNL will be the first of AFL Central Victoria’s senior leagues to get under way next Saturday.
HDFNL round one, Saturday, April 7:
Leitchville-Gunbower v North Bendigo
Huntly v White Hills
Mount Pleasant v LBU
Colbinabbin v Elmore – 6.15pm
Heathcote bye
………………………………...
Addy flag selections:
Adam Bourke – Leitchville-Gunbower
Luke West – Colbinabbin
Kieran Iles – Leitchville-Gunbower
Will Vallely – Leitchville-Gunbower
