Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
READ MORE - Demons land first addition to 2021 list
MITIAMO president Rob Clohesy holds fears for the future of the Loddon Valley Football-Netball League club beyond next season if the Superoos don't attract an injection of new volunteers.
The Superoos are a club with more than 130 years of history having been founded in 1889, but Clohesy says the club could be at the crossroads in 12 months time without additional off-field support.
With no LVFNL season played this year due to the coronavirus pandemic the Superoos are the reigning premiers in both the senior football and A Grade netball.
But off-field too much is being left to too few and fresh volunteer blood is desperately required given the club's committee of 14 is an average of about 60 years old.
"Whenever we have a meeting it's always the same people who are coming along... we're not getting new people involved in a volunteer capacity and we need that if we are to keep the club going beyond next season," Clohesy said on Friday.
"We are very much committed to playing in the Loddon Valley league again next year, but if we can't get new and younger people involved with fresh ideas to support the club then we could be in no-man's land after next season.
"So what we're doing is putting the message out that we require help for the future of the club."
We are very much committed to playing in the Loddon Valley league again next year, but if we can't get new and younger people involved with fresh ideas to support the club then we could be in no-man's land after next season
- Rob Clohesy - Mitiamo president
And Clohesy is hoping that help could come from members of two Superoos' premiership teams - the victorious 2009 and 1999 grand final sides.
"I'm hoping there could be an opportunity to tap into past players from those premiership teams who might be interested in giving something back to the club," Clohesy said.
"You look back at the 1999 side... that's just over 20 years ago, so there's a group of guys in their 40s and we might be able to get a handful of them who want to get together and say, 'we'll have a crack at this and go and help'.
"And we'd like to think there's an opportunity to do the same with players from the 2009 premiership team because this is very much about the survival of the club and keeping Mitiamo alive."
As well as the urgent need for more volunteers, the Superoos are also facing the challenge of having had no under-18 football team since 2012 due to lack of numbers - a major headache for the club given the emphasis now on home-grown talent under the player points system.
On the netball court the Superoos are also needing more volunteer assistance to spread the load among their four senior teams, three junior teams and one non-competitive team.
The Superoos are also on the search for more netball coaches.
Anyone interested in a netball coaching or a volunteer role with the Superoos can contact netball operations manager Glenda Thomas on 0459 110 838 or email aegmthomas@gmail.com
Meanwhile, the Superoos will hold their annual general meeting at the Mitiamo clubrooms on Sunday, November 22, from 11am.
Those wanting to support Mitiamo's call for more volunteers can contact Clohesy on 0408 511 116.
"This is very much about survival for us. If we don't get some new volunteers we aren't going to have a footy-netball club at Mitiamo for much longer," Clohesy said.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.