Hiatt & Rixon receive inaugural Volunteer Award
The BFNL is pleased to announce the introduction of a Volunteer Recognition of Service Award.
Awarded annually, this award enables BFNL Clubs to nominate long-serving, dedicated and loyal volunteers who over the course of time, have had a profound impact on their Club.
For the 2024 season, nominations for the award were opened to Clubs after the conclusion for the 2024 season.
All nominations received were submitted to the BFNL Board for consideration.
Excitingly, in it’s first iteration the BFNL Board has awarded two volunteers with the Volunteer Recognition of Service Award for 2024.
Shawn Rixon from Castlemaine FNC and Ron Hiatt from South Bendigo FNC were presented with their Volunteer Recognition of Service Award at the Bendigo FNL Annual General Meeting held on January 15 at the Bendigo Club.
Shawn, a long-time volunteer at Castlemaine, has served on both the senior and junior committees while also holding roles as a junior coach and junior delegate.
On a match day, Shawn is a key cog of the Castlemaine show ensuring that both netball courts and football grounds are ready for play while also running water and boundary umpiring.
A Magpie through and through, Shawn has always been a big advocate for player loyalty and encouraging them to endure the tough times to keep the club viable but to teach resilience among Castlemaine’s playing groups and volunteers.
Importantly, Shawn played a key role within the Club in 2023 when Castlemaine was shocked by the sudden passing of Dallas Keogh-Franklin, opening his house up to anyone in need during what was an incredibly difficult time for the Club.
Shawn is a big promoter of Castlemaine’s Club values and is a pillar in the Club’s resurgence on the football field.
Ron Hiatt is a 30-year volunteer at the South Bendigo FNC having held a variety of roles across his time including President and Treasurer.
Ron is a passionate Club man who has now been the Bloods’ timekeeper for over a decade while still managing to arrange his famous ground raffle each South Bendigo home match.
The Bloods culture has been built on the back of people like Ron whose dedication to South Bendigo has seen him go through good times and tough times.
It’s a family affair for the Hiatt’s with Ron’s wife, Marie also heavily involved at the Club and now their son Brad and wife, Brooke are following their father’s footsteps.
A friend and mentor to many over the years, Ron has a strong drive to continue to recruit volunteers to South Bendigo while mentoring them to ensure they have the skills and loyalty they need to continue to have an impact at South Bendigo for many years to come.
