Cheers to another successful Bottomless Brunch!

We want to extend an enormous thank you to everyone who helped organise and run our Bottomless Brunch on Saturday.; we couldn’t have done it without you!

Liz & Brenna Mace deserve a special mention for leading the catering team, with help from Robin Irvine, Helen Desmond, and Shelley Daisley. From homemade delights to personalised chocolates by Brenna, their culinary talents made the event unforgettable.

Thank you to Micaela Hanlon for securing silent auction donations totalling over $1000, and Sinead Hanlon, Michelle Cotter, Gabrielle Collis, and Bernadette Coyle did an amazing job assembling and beautifully wrapping the auction prizes.

A big shout-out to Jodi and Joel Stanley for their help many odd jobs from cleaning plates and cutlery to folding napkins and laying placemats.

Lauren Ind played a crucial role in organising the event, but most importantly in organising cocktails! Lauren also helped run the bar on the day along with Livio Basile and James Ind. Thanks as well to Fiona Hocking for organising music and serving as MC on the day.

And thank you to Mark Stanley and Greg Hanlon for cleaning up on Sunday!

Your hard work and commitment not only raised essential funds for our Club but also strengthened our Club and community bonds. Here’s to many more successful events together!

NAIDOC Week 2024

Today marks the start of NAIDOC Week, an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This year’s theme – Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud – celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.

Here’s some ideas to get you started:
– Engage with local Traditional Owners and your local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Community
– Read a book by a First Nations author
– Watch a television show or movie made by a First Nations filmmaker.

Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.

AFL Victoria recognise our Local Legend Liz Mace

We’re so pleased that AFL Victoria have recognised Liz Mace as a Local Legend for her tireless work behind the scenes at the St Mary’s.

Liz and her family joined the St Mary’s Junior Football Club in 1994, finding it the perfect place for their sons to start their football journeys. Over the years, Liz and her husband Wayne took on numerous roles, from administrative duties to organising social events.

Despite her sons retiring from footy, Liz extended her commitment to the newly established St Mary’s Senior Club, contributing significantly to its growth. Among her many roles, her standout contribution has been Thursday night dinners, along with her daughter Brenna. Wayne also continues to support the club by managing the Blue Oyster Can Bar at every home game.

AFL Victoria’s Local Legends initiative celebrates the vital role of volunteers like Liz, who ensure community football clubs thrive.

Read the full story on AFL Victoria

St Mary’s save 30 lives and counting

It’s World Blood Donor Day. Our Lifeblood team has already saved 30 lives this year through blood and plasma donations!

Countless Aussies rely on blood donations everyday. In fact, 1 in 3 will need a blood donation blood in their lifetime. That’s about 53 of our netball and football players!

Making a blood donation is a simple and powerful way to help others. Each donation can save up to three lives and takes just 10 minutes of your time. Imagine the difference you could make by becoming a regular donor.

Ready to start saving lives? Read the guide to join our team then click the button below.

Donate now

Support Big Freeze 10

Join us in supporting the NFNL’s Big Freeze Round this weekend in support of Fight MND.

Currently there are more than 2,000 Australians living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) with an average life expectancy of just 27 months from diagnosis.

Actions speak louder than words. So this weekend, let’s flood the sidelines in blue, wearing Big Freeze socks and beanies, available for purchase at your local supermarket.

You’re also encouraged to donate to Fight MND. Every donation brings us one step closer to a cure, so team up with us for Big Freeze 10 and DO your bit.

Make a donation

Men’s Health Week 2024

It’s Men’s Health Week, and this year the focus is on men’s health checks.

50 men in Australia die each day from preventable causes. That’s around 18,000 men a year.

One thing we can do to reduce the number of men dying too young is to increase the number of men getting health checks.

Be a men’s health champion. Book in to get checked and encourage your mates to do the same!

Let’s talk about road safety and earn for St Mary’s!

We’re once again participating in the TAC Club Rewards program! This initiative not only promotes important conversations about road safety but also gives us the opportunity to earn up to $10,000 for our club.

This year, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is placing a strong emphasis on discussing the dangers of speeding on Victoria’s roads. Speeding remains a leading cause of road accidents, and by raising awareness, we can all contribute to making our roads safer.

We need your support to make this campaign a success. Here’s how you can get involved:

  • Slow down on the roads: Whether you’re driving to training, a game, or just running errands, remember to adhere to speed limits. Your careful driving can save lives.
  • Engage with our social media content: Follow St Mary’s on social media and actively engage with our posts about road safety. Like, comment, and share these posts to spread the message far and wide.
  • Start conversations: Talk to your friends and family about the importance of road safety. Every conversation can make a difference.

Ultimate Bottomless Brunch

You’re invited to our annual Bottomless Brunch! Come and enjoy experience featuring unlimited beer, wine, sparkling, Pimms, and a cocktail. Plus, a variety of hot and cold food and delicious desserts.

Participate in our silent auction and bid on amazing items such as a comedy night experience and a paint & sip event, or tickets to The Boy from Oz!

All of this is available for just $65 per person! This fantastic deal promises a day filled with laughter, great food, and endless drinks, while also helping raise funds for the Club you love.

Buy tickets now

National Reconciliation Week 2024

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week.

The theme for 2024 – Now More Than Ever – is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will and must continue.

Despite moments of division, disengagement isn’t an option. With 6.2 million YES votes, commitment to better outcomes for First Nations people is evident.

We need to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation.

Reconciliation demands action—calling out racism, supporting Indigenous voices, pursuing treaty-making, truth-telling, historical understanding, education, and anti-racism efforts. We challenge everyone in our St Mary’s community to stand up and start taking these actions.

Now, more than ever, we need connection, respect, action and change to achieve reconciliation.

National Volunteer Week: Kym Irvine’s St Mary’s Story

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, we spoke with Kym Irvine whose been volunteer at St Mary’s for 31 years and counting.

Kym’s journey with St Mary’s began back in 1993 when his son took his first steps onto the field as a Tacker. In those early days Kym found himself involved in many roles. From serving as a runner for the Tackers to Under 12s, to coaching for the Under 13s, 14s, 15s, and Colts 2, even winning a few premierships!

But his contributions weren’t confined to the field. He spent 7 years on the Junior Committee, including a term as President from 2001-2003, coinciding with the Club’s 30th anniversary. Even after stepping back from leadership roles, Kym remained involved, working behind the bar on Sunday nights. His and wife Robyn’s dedication was rightfully recognised with Life Membership in 2003.

As the Senior Club took shape, Kym jumped into to help, eager to pave the way for junior players to continue playing with their mates. Thus, it’s no surprise he took on Senior Coach in 2010 and 2011 and Football Manager from 2015-2016. Even today, today, you’ll still find him at the heart of the action, stationed with his mates running the famous Blue Oyster Bar during every home game.

As for what keeps him coming back – Kym reflects on the fulfilment feels. “Seeing young players grow from Tackers to senior footballers, knowing you’ve played a part in their journey, that’s what keeps me coming back year after year,” Kym shared.

Reflecting on his decades-long journey with St Mary’s, Kym has countless memorable moments. Among his favourites he highlights the Under 13 and Under 14 junior premierships, the Reserves three-peat, the Senior Premiership and being elevated to Division 2 in record time, and our first ever Club Premiership coming from the netball team.

Yet, it’s the sense of community that truly resonates with Kym. “Volunteering at St Mary’s isn’t just about footy: it’s about being part of something bigger, a community that supports and uplifts each other.”

He’s also been proud for paving the way for the Club to grow, with the opening of the new clubrooms and seeing the evolution to include a women’s team.

Through his selfless dedication, Kym has helped shape the lives of countless players who have had the privilege of calling St Mary’s their home.

“St Mary’s isn’t just a club; it’s a family. The friendships formed here, the memories created, they’re what make it all worthwhile,” Kym shared.