Life Blood of the Club - Fiona Dews
Fiona Dews - SMJFC Life Member
Fiona Dews is a Life Member of the South Mandurah Junior Football Club whose years of dedication and behind-the-scenes work played a significant role in strengthening both the club’s culture and the development of junior football within the community.
When asked how her involvement with the club first began, Fiona reflects on her four sons starting their football journey at South Mandurah. Like many parents, she initially became involved to support her children, but what started as a simple request from Janet Polglase to become a team manager quickly grew into something far greater. As Fiona recalls, little did she know at the time just how much the club would become part of her life.
Over the years, Fiona took on a wide range of responsibilities within the club, becoming one of the key people behind the scenes who helped keep things running smoothly. Her roles included Team Manager, Team Manager Co-ordinator, Registrar, Merchandise and Game Day Manager. When reflecting on her time as Registrar, Fiona remembers the role being particularly demanding during an era before modern systems streamlined the process. Weekly team sheets, extensive paperwork and hours of manual data entry became part of the routine, requiring enormous commitment throughout every football season.
Looking back on the people who stood out during her time at the club, Fiona fondly remembers Brad Breen, who became such a regular part of football discussions with her husband Darren that he jokingly referred to Brad as her “footy husband.” She also speaks highly of Vanessa Barley, the Peel District Registrar, whom Fiona describes as a legend in Peel football circles for her contributions to the game and support for local clubs.
When asked about her proudest moments at South Mandurah Junior Football Club, Fiona immediately reflects on the introduction of girls’ football at the club. Seeing South Mandurah become the first club in the Mandurah area to establish a girls' team remains one of her proudest achievements. Fiona speaks passionately about the growth of female involvement in Australian rules football over the years and the pride she feels in seeing how far the game has progressed for young girls within the local community.
Alongside this, Fiona also treasures the experience of watching her sons grow through football, forming friendships, and eventually progressing into senior football. For her, those moments captured the true value of junior sport and the lasting connections it creates for families and players alike.
However, Fiona also recalls some of the more difficult moments that came with volunteering at the junior football level. During her time as Game Day Manager, she was occasionally required to deal with opposition parents displaying abusive behaviour, smoking or drinking around junior matches, situations that demanded both patience and leadership. On a personal level, she also found it difficult at timesto watch all four of her boys play while carrying out club responsibilities on game days.
When asked what advice she would offer to others considering involvement in junior football, Fiona emphasises that volunteering can be incredibly rewarding. Her message is simply to take your time, enjoy the experience, and always remember that junior football is ultimately about the kids.
Fiona’s philosophy also extends to what she believes makes a strong junior football club. In her view, successful clubs are built on strong committees and people being willing to share the workload. She believes that when volunteers work together and support one another, they create the foundation for a positive, sustainable club environment.
Ultimately, Fiona Dews’ story is one of commitment, leadership and genuine care for the growth of junior football within the South Mandurah community. From team management through to helping drive the development of female football and club culture, her contribution to South Mandurah Junior Football Club has been enormous, making her a thoroughly deserving Life Member of the club.
Interview and Article by
Kevan Waters (SMJFC Life Member) & Jack Christian-Waters (SMJFC Junior)
