The Alice Wills Award is returning for 2023 and the Richmond Football Club is now seeking nominations.

To nominate a volunteer of the Richmond Football Club for the Alice Wills Award, click here.

The award honours outstanding dedication and commitment of 10 years or more, by a volunteer of the Richmond Football Club.

Volunteers have been vital to the off-field success of the Tigers since its formation in 1885 and the Alice Wills Award pays tribute to those who have made outstanding contributions in a voluntary capacity.

Last year, Joan Chapple was awarded the Alice Wills Award in recognition of outstanding dedication and commitment by a volunteer to the Richmond Football Club. Chapple, a 77-year member of Richmond, has volunteered at the club for decades in various activities including assisting Alice Wills whenever needed for events such as family days, preparing newsletters and selling merchandise.

When the new club rooms were completed, Chapple worked in assisting the club on a daily basis looking after the players' area and preparing breakfast for the players. 

Chapple has also volunteered to fill media spots and to appear on television advertisements whenever required.

The award is named after Alice Wills, who was a volunteer with the Richmond Football Club for more than 50 years.

She formed the Richmond Cheer Squad in 1959 and a few years later established the Supporters’ Group, which was an organisation that helped the Club with fundraising and players’ sponsorship.

In 1990, with Richmond facing extinction, due to a dire financial crisis, it was Alice Wills who successfully rallied the troops during the famous Save Our Skins campaign.

Alice managed volunteers, letter mail-outs and collection tins all to raise much needed funds for the campaign.

In 1988, Alice’s remarkable contributions at Tigerland were officially recognised, when she was awarded Life Membership to the Club.

In 2002, Alice was further honoured by the Club, being one of the inaugural inductees into Richmond’s Hall of Fame. To this day, she is the only female Hall of Fame inductee in the Tigers’ history.

In 2008, when the Club celebrated its league football centenary, Alice was named as one of the Tigers’ all-time top 10 servants.

Alice worked tirelessly in the background for her beloved Tigers never seeking personal accolades or publicity. Her commitment to the Club is inspirational and it is with great that the award is dedicated to her.

Nominations for the 2023 Award are open now and will close Wednesday, May 31.