Nangwarry Football Club president Shane Ploenges has been shortlisted for the 2024 Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year Award.
Ploenges is one of seven finalists to be shortlisted, selected from a record 223 nominations.
The nominees represent metropolitan and regional clubs across the state and have been recognised for their significant contribution to grassroots football.
The other nominees include Dominic Denton – Thevenard Football Club, Elle Griffiths – Broadview Football Club, Jamie Morgan – Plympton Football Club, Julie Clifton – Willunga Football Club, Leigh Thredgold – Kangarilla Football Club and Louise Trapp – Hahndorf Football Club.
The winner will be announced at the annual SANFL Community Volunteers awards night at Adelaide Oval on October 11.
Now in its eighth year, the SANFL Hostplus Volunteer of the Year Award aims to highlight those individuals who have provided outstanding voluntary service to community football in South Australia.
Ploenges moved from the now-defunct Tarpeena Football Club to Nangwarry, taking over as president in 1998.
Remarkably, he has held this position ever since, with an unbroken period of 26 years.
During this time he has also taken on additional roles as recruiter, coach, club umpire, managed the bar and much more.
Despite a period of very challenging times for the club with declining numbers, Ploenges has worked tirelessly to ensure the club could come through at the other end and be sustainable.
He was also responsible for guiding it through the complete rebuild of its clubrooms several years ago after they were destroyed by fire in 2019.
In more recent times, Ploenges has also been instrumental in developing female football at the club and starting Nangwarry’s first women’s team.
SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler congratulated the finalists for their commitment to football in SA.
“We acknowledge these finalists, and all the volunteers who were nominated for the Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year Award this year, for their remarkable contribution to our game,” Mr Chandler said.
“This year’s finalists represent not just their clubs, but are ambassadors for the tens of thousands of volunteers across all levels of footy and in every corner of the state to whom we owe so much.
“Volunteers enrich our game through their selflessness, encouragement and devotion and many clubs would simply be unable to operate without their contribution.”
In addition to being awarded the David Shipway AM Medal and a perpetual trophy, the award winner will receive a night’s accommodation at The Oval Hotel following the awards dinner; a one-night stay for two people at Serafino Winery, McLaren Vale, including a three-course dinner and breakfast.
The winner also will be provided with the use of a brand-new luxury Kia vehicle to explore the famous wine region in style during their stay; two Ultimate Football Memberships, including reserved seats to all AFL home games at Adelaide Oval (excluding finals) in season 2025, valued at approximately $1600 and a $200 e-gift voucher (prepaid Mastercard), courtesy of the AFL.
