Gippsland League elects self-governed board

By Jack Morgan

A new committee has been elected to self-govern the Gippsland League and will take over from AFL Gippsland’s Regional Administration Centre.

Eight committee members will take power at the November AGM where they will form the new board of governance.

The representatives were elected on Monday night by a steering committee comprised of league and club representatives.

It’s hoped the move to self-governance will give the Gippsland League more independence as a private entity.

The eight members hail from all over Gippsland and hope to provide a progressive step forward.

Brett Tessari – Mayor of Bass Coast Shire and former President of six years at the Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club. Also has experience in football recruitment, coaching, and management with Wonthaggi.

Stuart Dalton – Was heavily involved as a board member in the reinstatement of the Frankston Football Club into the VFL. Dalton has a strong level of understanding in both financial and governance matters and is now based in West Gippsland. He has a wealth of experience at a variety of levels in football.

Shane Paynter – Current recreation coordinator of the Baw Baw Shire and board member of the Gippsland Sports Academy.  Paynter has 25 years of experience as a player and administrator in football and is an accredited level 2 coach currently at Moe Football Club.

Andrew Livingstone – Former coach and administrator in the Traralgon and District JFL, Alberton League, and Gippsland League. Livingstone is a former President of the Traralgon Football Club and has experience coaching interleague teams.

Dean Benson – Life member of the Sale–Maffra Cricket Association, Benson has been heavily involved with local football and cricket. He’s a former President of the Sale Football Netball Club and runs a successful family business.

Duane Rek – Based in the Latrobe Valley, has experience as both player and coach in the Gippsland League. Rek has served as the recruiting officer for Brisbane Lions and Port Power, and General Manager at the Belconnen Magpies.

Jodi Galea – Has tackled multiple netball roles at the Gippsland League since 2017. Galea is based in the Latrobe Valley and has helped coordinate major netball programs, including the Association Championships and the Eastern Zone Premier Netball Competition.

Ian Dougherty – Directed the Hampton Football Club to a premiership in the Southern Football Netball League in Melbourne. Dougherty moves to the Latrobe Valley after serving as Hampton’s president and board member of the SFNL.

Read more in Tuesday’s paper.