By Luke Voogt
Former Cats president Frank Costa will help choose Geelong’s first ever Club Legend, who will earn $5000 for themselves and their club.
Mr Costa joined a 10-person judging panel which will pick the winner from a final group of 20 selfless local volunteers next month.
“I think it’s got real merit,” he said. “The sporting groups around the town are really the heart and soul of the place.”
The 89-year-old businessman helped rescue Geelong Football Club from the brink of financial disaster when he became president in 1998.
“It wasn’t really surprising they asked me to come on their panel,” he said. “I’ve been a passionate Geelong Football Club supporter all my life.”
Mr Costa knows almost every legend who has worn the blue and white hoops.
But he had some reading to do on the diverse finalists for the Club Legend Award, which included volunteers from Gaelic football and Special Olympics Barwon.
“I certainly don’t know every champion of those clubs throughout the years,” he said.
Volunteers played a vital role in getting the next generation involved in sport, Mr Costa said.
By encouraging more people to support clubs, Viva Energy’s Club Legend Award would get kids away from screens and onto the field, he said.
“That’s just got to be a plus. If we get them involved in sport in their free time, that’s only going to make us a healthier community.”
Mr Costa joins Geelong Cats Jackie Caracella, Leisure Networks Michael King and Victorian and local sporting officials Erika Gee-Kot and Chelsea Cameron on the panel.
The panel also includes the City’s Paul Cotter and Stephen Parker, Rob Riordan from Riodan Fuels, Viva Energy general manager Thys Heyns and Geelong Indy managing editor Tony Galpin.
The public will also have the chance to choose their favourite with the People’s Choice award, which has a $2000 prize for the winner and their club.
Voting closes 4 October with a full list of finalists at www. clublegend.com.au.
Viva Energy will host a Club Legend Award dinner to honour all the finalists and winners at Simonds Stadium on 16 October.
