Bridie Brady may be Netball Victoria’s Volunteer of the Year, but she knows these awards are about more than just one person.
Lara Football Netball Club secretary, as well as club committee member, canteen manager, A grade and C grade team manager and general admin workhorse, Ms Brady was honoured last weekend with the award at the peak netball body’s inaugural award ceremony.
She said she felt both humbled to win the award and uncomfortable with being in the spotlight.
“I knew I was in the top three, the final three, who were all invited on Sunday…I was nervous, shaking,” she said.
“So I was surprised (to win), overwhelmed. I felt a little bit guilty because there are lots of people that did lots of work – yes, I do a lot of work, but you’ve got to have great people around to be able to do what you do.
“There are a lot of other people here that do a hell of a lot of work as well. I think we’re just a really great team.”
Ms Brady, who has won Lara’s club person of the year award multiple times, was described in Netball Victoria’s announcement as a “champion” of both inclusion and community connection, having secured grants for the club to run awareness sessions on men in sport, LGBTQIA+ issues, multiculturalism, and First Nations culture.
She said her background in payroll at local not-for-profit organisation Meli helped her be organised and efficient with juggling her many roles at the club with her family and work life.
“It’s tough to make it all fit, but when you love what you do at work, at home and at netball, you find a way,” Ms Brady said.
