Roy Brittain's lifetime of involvement at Russells Creek has earnt him many accolades, including life memberships and having trophies named after him. But it's his latest honour that takes pride of place in his collection.
Brittain is the inaugural winner of the annual Logie Watson Volunteer of the Year Award, which the Warrnambool and District Football Netball League created this year to honour unsung club heroes.
The award, named after the long-serving league administrator who helped turn the competition into a leader, was presented to Brittain by Watson's widow, Wilma, at the WDFNL's J.A Esam Medal count on Monday night.
In an emotional ceremony, Brittain told the crowd of about 300 people that he was thrilled to receive the award named in honour of one of his great friends.
Brittain, a builder by trade, later revealed he had first met his plumber mate on work sites shortly after Watson emigrated from Scotland.
Their friendship developed over the years and while Brittain was at Russells Creek, Watson became president of Warrnambool Football Club.
"We used to have a fair few arguments over permits in those days," Brittain offered.
"When he became president of the district league we became better friends, the mutual interest was there."
Footy dominated their conversations over a hot drink, although Brittain revealed his mate made the "worst cup of coffee" but Wilma's cake was always the saving grace of his visits.
"I'm really chuffed at getting this, it's fantastic," Brittain said.
"We were just great friends. I still call in for a cuppa with Wilma now."
Brittain received the award for his on-going commitment at Russells Creek.
After moving from Boggy Creek to Warrnambool in the early 1940s, Brittain has supported the club ever since, playing 228 games between 1958 and 1973.
His five brothers all played with the Creekers, followed by his three sons, Rowan, Mark and Chris.
He served three five-year stints as club president (1971-75, 1980-84, 2001-06), had the vision and leadership to develop juniors at the club in the 1970s and was a member of the club's first netball committee.
He contributed to the development of Creek's former clubrooms in Wentworth Street, coordinated the development of the existing Mack Oval facilities, which he still maintains, and in more recent times organised the construction of the club's netball changerooms.
Brittain has been a long-time club delegate, taken on various roles with the leagues and was an avid supporter and on netball being introduced into the league.
He is a life member of the league, the club and has the under 17 premiership named after him.
Creek president Paul Daffy, in a submission supporting Brittain's nomination for the award, described him as part of the club's "fabric" and its "patriarch".
He said players and members would not be aware of the amount of time Brittain spent working behind the scenes.
"He is very visible in supporting all grades of football and netball on game day and there is not one person within the club that would not know him," Daffy said.
"On game day Roy will be visible either starting the day in the canteen, being courtside to watch netball, at the huddle for the football sides, organising sand for the quick fix holes in the oval, organising the kids to do the raffle, buying raffle tickets from opposition clubs, answering numerous queries during the day on all ranges of topics and encouraging and barracking for the Creekers."
Brittain, who was also founding president of the Russells Creek Cricket Club, said he enjoyed lending a hand.
"Someone looked after me when I was playing footy and I'm just putting a bit back," he said.
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