My Redan Story

I grew up in Buninyong. I started playing with Golden Point Under 14s then moved back to Buninyong to play with the under 16s. Buninyong did not have an under 14s at that stage. I played with the under 18s then played reserves then played seniors in what was called B Grade.

Teams like Dunstown, Sebastopol, Wendouree plus a few others. I was not a great player, just enjoy it. I first got to Redan when my eldest son started playing in the juniors and they didn't have a trainer. 

So I did my training at SMA in Melbourne which was 2 weekends every 2 years. Followed him right throughout his career. Then his son started playing with Redan juniors yes i followed him until he moved on.

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29th August 2022

If you have spent any amount of time around the juniors at the Redan Football Netball Club over the years there is a fair chance you’ve heard this call-out such is the demand for Daryl’s services on gameday, across both football and netball codes. A fortnight ago his dedication to voluntary work was rewarded as part of the Toyota AFL National Volunteer Awards. Daryl and his partner Sandra were treated to an overnight stay in Melbourne and then attended the Richmond vs Brisbane match.

Here is the background to Daryl’s nomination for this award.

Daryl Mewett has been a volunteer trainer with the Redan Football Netball Club for the best part of 40 years. Daryl commenced in a volunteer trainer role when his son started playing for the juniors in the early 1980s and the team needed helpers. Daryl then moved to the senior team when his son progressed through the ranks and was around when the club struck difficult times and almost folded. After a couple years away, Daryl returned to the juniors and has had the experience of training the children of those kids he began with in the 80s, including his grandson. There is a great sense of pride in both Daryl and the ‘old’ Redan players who get to share this experience with their kids.

Being a junior trainer in Ballarat is no easy feat in the depths of winter. This has not deterred Daryl who has spent countless long days (and training nights) at the club beginning anywhere from 8am on those desperately chilly mornings and finishing around 5pm. Daryl also looks after the junior netballers and has a regular group of girls queuing up for strapping on a weekly basis. Daryl enjoys a great relationship and comradery with all the junior players. (He’s also a regular at the local basketball supporting his granddaughters)

Daryl has also been only too happy to pass on his knowledge to new club volunteers.

They say death and taxes are two things certain in life. When it comes to the Redan Football Netball Club the one certainty is seeing Daryl with a smile on his face at the juniors on a Sunday.

Our club doesn’t exist without such a dedicated volunteer base. Next time you see Daryl please be sure to acknowledge the great work he does week in, week out – rain, hail or shine.

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13th August 2022