One of the Stawell 13 and Under Football Association's longest standing coaches has been awarded one of their highest individual honours.
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At the presentation night for Stawell 13 and Under Football Association on Thursday, Rhett Mellor was presented with a life membership as recognition for his service to the association.
Mellor said he was surprised to receive the award, but was very thankful for the recognition.
"I was pretty honoured and shocked to get it to be honest," he said.
"It is very much appreciated. You put your time in, but it is not for you, it is for the kids and they are the reason you do it.
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"To see the joy on their faces when they get to run out on the ground on a Friday night is fantastic."
Mellor has been coaching in the Association since 2014, and in 2021 he was in charge of the Magpies squad.
He said the chance to see the players grow and improve was the reason he continues to give his time.
"I just enjoy seeing the kids have fun and that's what it is all about," he said.
"It is all about the kids and watching them progress and then when they leave the 13 and Under competition, seeing them develop through juniors is humbling to watch them improve."
Mellor also spends his time as a junior football coach with the Stawell Warriors, leading the Under-17s in 2021.
"It takes up a fait bit of time," he said.
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"There's training most nights of the week and then there is Friday night football and Saturday football and you've got to juggle work in and around that too.
"But that time and effort is worth it at the end of the day."
Mellor also thanked everyone who had invested their time to run the 2021 Stawell 13 and Under Football Association season.
"This season has been really hard and it has been a credit to Andrew (Dunn) and all the volunteers. They have done a fantastic job to keep it going," he said.
"Every opportunity we have had to to get back out there we have.
"That is the most important part. Just getting the kids back out, even if they're not playing.
"Getting them all together again and getting them out there to have some fun and so it has been a pleasure to be involved with it."
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