TWENTY-THREE years after first joining the Ararat Football-Netball Club, Rod Mills was bestowed the highest honour at the Rats' presentation evening, taking out the Lew Ford Memorial Best Clubman Award.
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Mills' association with Ararat began in the early 1990s when he was assistant coach of the seniors while sitting the season out due to a knee injury.
In 1992 he coached the reserves and played a handful of games while still overcoming his injury, then went on to play a major role in the senior line-up during the 1993 season, which saw the Rats finish atop the ladder before falling short in the grand final.
While he has been a member of the club for 20-plus years, Mills became heavily involved with Ararat again at the start of the 2013 season when he joined Paul Ganley to help coach the reserves.
He said he always planned to return and help out at the Rats once his children Tom and Lucy began playing football and netball.
"A football club is an enjoyable place to be, whether you're a parent, supporter or participant - there is a lot of good things that come out of being involved," Mills said.
"To see our kids grow up, develop and change is a great thing and it is great to be able to watch that progress. Not only your own kids, but your mates' kids or other people that you have only just met through the club.
"To see them mature and turn into adults, clubs like this are so important for that growth."
Mills said winning the Lew Ford Memorial Best Clubman Award was a massive honour and came as a complete surprise.
Ararat Football-Netball Club president Bill Bell said the 2014 best clubman has helped unite the Rats through his work on the committee and at the grassroots level.
"'Dodger' has brought a great skill set to the club," he said.
"He has got a great commercial acumen and great people skills. He is one that has really helped keep the club in balance, because he is a great mediator between parties and is just genuinely happy and cheery to deal with - he has been enormous in helping to bring everyone together.
"Also he spreads himself right across the club, he doesn't just concentrate on one area. So whether it's his family involved in catering, or he'll help us out in the bar, to helping bring new corporate partners in or helping out in reserves' football.
"People who are willing to roll up their sleeves and take on numerous jobs like he has done is what makes the club tick along and move forward."