Final's prize a nice surprise

Passionate football fan and Mt Barker Community College teacher Adam Tetlow will attend this year’s AFL Grand Final at the MCG after being named the 2012 Outstanding Service as a Coles AFL School Ambassador award winner.

Tetlow, who received the honour at the premier dinner function held this month at Patersons Stadium, said he was very surprised to be the winner.

“I have been (to the awards) for about five years now, nominated for different awards but I was not expecting to win this,” Tetlow said.

“I love doing what I’m doing, seeing people enjoy AFL footy.”

The self-confessed footy addict was one of five finalists in the 2012 Outstanding Service as a Coles AFL School Ambassador category.

He said he could not have done it without the support of Mt Barker Community College and the Mt Barker community.

Part of his winning criteria for the award included:

Being an AFL School Ambassador for five years.

Running an annual Football Focus program.

Coaching upper school boys and girls football and Eagles Cup.

Running Eagles Faction Football.

Being the MBCC representative on the Great Southern Regional Football Development Council.

This year Tetlow was the also Great Southern Youth Girls Co-ordinator after previously being the Youth Girls coach.

The Football Focus program helps teach the fundamentals of coaching and officiating to students who then run clinics and game promotions in local primary schools.

These students also fundraise for a trip to Melbourne each year to watch four games of AFL and experience the football culture that exists there.

“The school has been very supportive of what we are doing,” Tetlow said.

“We are trying to make it sustainable.”

Tetlow also thanked the Bendigo Bank, Mt Barker Football Club and the WAFC for their financial support of his programs.

That included helping with travel, resources and prizes for the community visits.

As for his prize, Tetlow described it as unbelievable and something that was on every footy fan’s bucket list.

The award noted that Tetlow exemplified what a great school ambassador could achieve.

cameron.newbold@albanyadvertiser.com