LEIGH CLARK Memorial Trophy 

Every year a match is held between the Melton South Junior Football Netball Club “Panthers” and Melton Junior Football Netball Club “The Bloods”. The match is normally between the U 15’s age group; however, from year to year, this will change based on which team is available in each division, resulting in matches between the 17’s instead of U 15’s.

LEIGH CLARK

Leigh Clark completed the 1999 football season with the Melton Junior’s Under 15’s team, he was an outgoing, cheerful young man with a fanatical devotion to sports. Unfortunately, on August 15, 1999, aged 15 years, Leigh passed away following an alcohol overdose. 

History 

The 15^th Aug 1999 was a cold and wet night, Leigh joined up with a group of young school children who had acquired a quantity of high-strength "Imitation Vodka Essence". The essence was purchased by a parent and given to two other boys in the group. Within 30 minutes, Leigh was visibly intoxicated and unable to stand or walk properly. Despite this, his companions allowed him to walk home alone. He collapsed and died just 300 metres from where he was last seen.

There are many issues raised by this tragedy, not least the legislation and practices controlling the supply of alcohol to children. As a result, The Leigh Clark Foundation was formed in 2003 with the aim of preventing similar alcohol-related tragedies which wreak a terrible toll on our young people.

 The Leigh Clark Foundation

The Leigh Clark Foundation was set up to increase awareness of alcohol-related issues among young people, their parents and the general community. This is achieved through developing relationships with organisations such as schools, police & junior sporting clubs and generating publicity on alcohol-related matters as they affect our young society. 

Results

As a result of the efforts by the Leigh Clark Foundation, Victorian law was changed in 2018 in regard to the secondary supply of alcohol to minors.  

These laws include;

·         A parent or legal guardian may give verbal or written consent for a person to supply alcohol to their child.

·         The adult must be able to demonstrate responsible supervision of the supply of the liquor to the minor, taking into account factors that include—

·         (i) the age of the minor; and

·         (ii) whether or not the person supplying the liquor to the minor is intoxicated; and

·         (iii) whether or not the minor consumes food with the liquor; and

·         (iv) whether or not the person supplying the liquor is providing supervision of the minor's consumption of the liquor; and

·         (v) the quantity and type of liquor supplied and the period of time over which the liquor is supplied; and

·         (vi) whether or not the minor is intoxicated.

The foundation has now closed after achieving its goal; follow the link for more information on Victorian government laws - minors and alcohol.

MJFNC Information night

Each year in the lead-up to the annual match, an information night is held with players and parents to raise awareness around issues affecting each age group. These issues may include drug and alcohol issues, the one-punch campaign, social media and cyberbullying and TAC road safety campaigns.   

Annual match 

Each year a memorial match is played between the Melton Junior Football Netball Club and Melton South Junior Football Netball Club. The Leigh Clark Memorial Shield is presented to the winner and a best on ground is awarded to the best player of the match.

This event is only possible through the support and cooperation of the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL), the Melton South Junior Football Netball Club “Panthers” and Melton Junior Football Netball Club “The Bloods”.

 *Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no game was played

Nadine Webber Memorial Shield

The Melton Junior Netball Club was developed and constructed in 2014 by Kate Dixon the senior coordinator at Melton Football Netball Club. During this time, Kaitlyn McDermott, Nadine Webber, Amanda Borley and Aimee Vieth were also critical in the set-up of Netball as part of the Melton Junior Football Netball Club.  

Netball commenced at the Club in 2014 with an Under 13’s team coached by Kaitlyn McDermott and an Under 15’s Team coached by Nadine Webber. However, in 2015 Nadine sadly passed away after a battle with breast cancer.

There is a yearly Tribute game played between the Melton South Junior Football Netball Club “Panthers” and Melton Junior Football Netball Club “The Bloods” for the Nadine Webber Memorial Shield the Orr Family donated. The game is to celebrate Nadine’s commitment to the club and to raise awareness about breast cancer that impacts both men and women across our community. 

For more information on Breast Cancer, follow the links to

·         Cancer Council or   Breast Cancer Network Australia

This event is only possible through the support and cooperation of the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL), the Melton South Junior Football Netball Club “Panthers” and Melton Junior Football Netball Club “The Bloods”.

*Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no game was played 

Presidents Award

The President's Sportsmanship Award is given to the recipient for outstanding services to the Melton Junior Football Netball Club throughout the year.