2025 SANFL Volunteer of the Year Finalist – Suzy Graham

13 October 2025

By ALEXANDRA BULL

West Augusta Football Club’s Suzy Graham is one of the reasons that girls and women from across the Spencer Gulf have the chance to play the sport they love. 

During COVID-19, a round-robin style football competition was trialled as a way for girls to play sport outdoors.

Suzy’s daughter loved it.

Seeing the enthusiasm of so many girls, Suzy saw the potential for a club-based women’s football competition to be established in Port Augusta.

“With the dedication of a few helpers from other clubs, this commenced in earnest in 2021,” Suzy said.

“By 2023, Whyalla clubs joined and in 2025, it became a six-club competition across Whyalla and Port Augusta, with all clubs fielding sides in Under 14s and Under 17s.”

Now, the Spencer Gulf Football League comprises of seven teams, with Suzy’s efforts all those years ago partially to thank.

Suzy has been a long-term West Augusta Football Club (WAFC) volunteer and is now the Team Manager and Club delegate for the club’s inaugural women’s side.

“I’m extremely proud that WAFC can now offer a seamless female football journey from Auskick through to the adult women’s competition,” Suzy said.

“From humble beginnings in 2021 with our club only just able to field Under 11, 14 and 17s sides at the club, with many players playing in two grades or for other clubs to enable the competition to develop.

“To see this evolve and thrive over five years has just been incredible to be a part of – we are now having to undertake selections for our women’s team each week!”

True to her supportive nature, Suzy has also recently joined the Port Augusta Junior Committee, accepting roles as League Treasurer and Secretary, as well as Club Delegate.

“Like any volunteer in football would know, volunteering can have its challenges and can sometimes be exhausting,” Suzy said.

“There have been times when it’s required a lot of grit and determination to keep going. Fortunately, over the last few years the club has really come on board with supporting the growth in number in girls football.

“The behind-the-scenes work is enormous; it only comes together with the dedication of a very large number of generous volunteers donating their time and skills to make it happen.”

Suzy added that she loves the sense of community that comes with being involved with the West Augusta Football Club.

“I enjoy interacting with lots of different people, who I might not get to know otherwise,” Suzy said.

“I love the relationships I’ve developed, particularly with the families that have had young girls playing for four or five years now.

“We have a positive football community, and it’s just been wonderful to watch the competition develop and the players grow in skills.”

Suzy is one of eight finalists for the 2025 SANFL Volunteer of the Year Award, with the winner to be announced at the annual SANFL Community Volunteers Awards Night at Adelaide Oval on Friday, 31 October.