Ben Trevena of the Echuca Moama Rockets all-abilities football club was recognised as the AFL Victoria Disability Inclusion Ambassador of the Year.
Trevena was nominated by all-abilities league officials in Shepparton in honour of his efforts behind the scenes at the Rockets, helping out as an assistant with both the senior and junior sides.
“(It’s about) being an advocate for people with disability to get them out and playing footy and stuff like that,” he said.
“That's the real reason I believe, but just helping out with getting the Rockets together, to the competitions and organising the training.”
Trevena has been volunteering with the Rockets for about 10 years, since his son linked up with the club.
“(I was) one of those ones that just couldn't sit on the fence and watch everything,” he said.
“I had to get involved in it and ensure that it goes well going forward.”
The Rockets’ senior side took part in six carnival-style game days in 2024 around regional Victoria, while the junior sides take part in an Auskick-style 10-week program.
Thanks, in part, to Trevena’s efforts, the Rockets have been on an upswing recently, hitting record overall numbers in 2024.
Trevena is encouraging more volunteers to get involved and support the Rockets in the 2025 season.
“You don't necessarily have to have someone with a disability to come down and help out, get the team on the park and keep everything running,” he said.
“More hands make light work obviously, so there's many things (to do) if we can get other people.
“A lot of it has been parents and people that support people with disabilities.
“They’ve started getting involved a little bit, but we want to put it out wider, even to the group of ex-footy players.
“(If they) want to come down and teach them skills and stuff like that, that would be really good.”
The Rockets’ junior and senior programs will kick off in March-April 2025.
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