Victorian volunteer Gary Lee has been recognised for his tireless work in the community with the 2016 Australia Post AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador of the Year.
Volunteer Gary Lee has been recognised for his tireless work introducing new Australians to the nation’s indigenous game with the 2016 Australia Post AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador of the Year award.
Gary was presented with this national award by the Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Linda Dessau AM at a morning reception at Government House on Friday September 30th. This event recognised the contribution of Australian Football volunteers across the state. The reception, attended by 500 people honoured all State and Territories Volunteer of the Year Award recipients.
The Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan were present at the event.
“I am truly humbled by the opportunity to enable communities through this amazing sport. Australian football is such a enigma, for a sport predominantly played in one part of the globe, it has such powerful ability to transcend cultural barriers and bring communities together,” Gary said.
Among his other passions, Gary dedicates nearly every moment of his spare time to ensuring football remains an accessible, warm and fun environment for people from all walks of life. Gary spends much of his time off work taking international students and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (including many students from the Philippines) to footy games, banner making workshops, introduction to AFL sessions and he also serves on the AFL Multicultural Focus Group.
An active and dedicated AFL Victoria Multicultural Community Ambassador, Gary helps to pedal and promote all sorts of football inclusion and introduction programs including North Melbourne Football Club’s The Huddle, and has also worked with groups of international students new to Australia.
AFL Victoria Multicultural Participation Coordinator Salim Mahazi said the 2016 Multicultural Ambassador of the Year award was deserved recognition for Gary.
“Gary has been a truly dedicated AFL Victoria Multicultural Ambassador and very active in his support programs.”
“AFL has the ability to unite people and break down stereotypes and cultural barriers; and I want to be part of this positive transformation” Gary declares.
Anyone Filipino community groups interested to discuss ideas and activities on how best to engage their communities in AFL can contact Gary Lee on glyf@hotmail.com or on Instagram: @divers_eat_y.
