This week we're getting to know some of our SUNS members who volunteered at the Commonwealth Games and learning about their experiences as a volunteer and what makes them a great SUNS member.
Today we get to know Mark...
What was your role at the Commonwealth Games?
I was a fleet driver, moving dignitories, team officials and at times athletes from place to place, usually from their hotel or the village to a competition venue, or vice versa.
What was your number one highlight?
The people. Without a doubt the people I met were the highlight. Not just those competing or officiating, but the other volunteers as well. Everyone was so happy to be involved, so ready to chat so when we had some downtime it was certainly great to have people like that around to chat with. A few of my passengers in the car told me this was the best games they'd been to and had nothing but praise for the games the Gold Coast put on, which was really pleasing to hear.
Did you have the opportunity to meet anyone ‘famous’, were you star struck at all?
I didn't have any familiar faces in the car with me, however we heard plenty of stories about other drivers picking up, Chris Hemsworth, Usain Bolt, Usain Bolt's luggage. My favourite story is the drivers who were assigned to collect the Sultan of Brunei - turns out their job was not to collect the Sultan himself, but 3 cars full of luggage!
You’re involved with the Broadbeach FC, tell us more about your role with the club.
We've been at the club for 4 years, and I've been a junior coach there for the last 3 years, coaching an Under 10 team currently and also helping along with a couple of other coaches to coordinate the Under 8 group. There's plenty of kids who love their footy at Broady and plenty of parents who are willing to help out and get involved as well, which makes our job as coaches so much easier. Seeing the skill development of the boys and girls in the teams and just seeing the enjoyment on their face, it's a great environment to be involved in.
You have two kids who love their footy, do they enjoy coming to SUNS games with you?
They love it! They cheer the SUNS boys on, win lose or draw and really enjoy catching up with their mates from footy and having a kick on the practice field during the breaks, then of course kick to kick at the end of the game. We've been up to the Gabba for those 2 games this year to get our live footy fix, but we've really been looking forward to next weekend back at Metricon.
Does footy play a big role in your family?
Not as much as others that I know of, but it can take up a lot of our time. Between training, junior game days, SUNS games, having a kick out the front, watching games on TV and keeping track of fantasy teams, it can be all encompassing.
As a member for 7 years, what’s been your favourite SUNS moment?
The very first win against Port Adelaide in Adelaide - what a comeback! I remember hearing yelling and shouting from other houses in my neighbourhood in the last quarter when the goals kept coming! And the first win at home at Metricon were two of the moments that stand out of me. The club has always been really inclusive of their members as well. We were lucky enough to win an afternoon with the SUNS a few years back and had a kick and a chat with a few of the players, that was a fantastic afternoon, the boys loved it.
As a proud Gold Coaster do you love that you have an AFL team to call your own?
Absolutely! It's easy to see as well they're a team on the right track as well, I can't wait to see them have that first taste of September footy.
