Richmond has recognised its staff, players and volunteers in the Club’s sixth annual, peer-voted Bunjil Awards, for those who are seen as outstanding role models for a selected Club value.
This year’s value is Relentless, and is represented by the Dreamtime creature dulin dhuling, the goanna. The dhulin dhuling design was created by former Dreamtime jumper artist, Mick Harding.
The four Bunjil Award recipients were voted by their peers for challenging themselves and others to ensure the Club achieves exceptional outcomes, aligning their efforts toward Club priorities, and being fiercely competitive and thriving on passion for the Club and its vision.
Receiving an overwhelming number of nominations, the Richmond player to receive this year’s Bunjil Award is hard-nosed defender, Dylan Grimes.
On-field, Grimes demonstrates the Club’s value of Relentless through his hard work to strive to win every contest, and relentless pressure on opposition, regardless of the score.
Off the field, Grimes has been recognised for his leadership to create a culture aligned with the Club’s values, his constant professionalism, strong connection to the Club and staff, and willingness to learn, help and improve himself and others around him.
Richmond’s Head of Commercial Development, Vanessa Foo, a Richmond staff member for 11 years, receives the Club’s staff Bunjil Award for her relentless commitment and care for the Club, dedication to her role, team and the broader football club, and respectfully challenging opinions and ways the Club operates to authentically deliver programs and outcomes.
Foo’s relentless commitment to partnerships for Richmond’s community programming and new VFLW program were key standouts in her nominations.
Miles Quintarelli receives the Bunjil Award for Aligned Leisure, Richmond’s wholly-owned and operated subsidiary business.
Quintarelli has a variety of roles in the Health Club and facility operations at Aligned Leisure’s Eltham Leisure Centre, and was nominated by his peers for his professionalism, strong work ethic, striving for excellence, bringing new ideas and strategies to improve processes, building strong relationships with customers and the community, and volunteering his time for community events.
Long-serving volunteer, John Kelly receives the Bunjil Award for a Richmond volunteer or casual staff member.
Kelly is a 20-year servant of the Richmond Football Club and is described in his nominations as a “selfless, relentlessly happy, humble, kind, genuine person, a true Richmond man and a true Richmond legend.”
Kelly volunteers his time during the week and on match day with Richmond’s Football Property Department, works tirelessly on a variety of tasks – none too big or small, and always offering support to others in their roles.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale congratulated each Bunjil Award recipient and thanked all staff for their nominations.
“Our people are our most important asset, and I’m really proud not only of the outstanding role models being awarded today, but the relentless commitment of all of our staff and volunteers,” he said.
“Building a strong and united culture is really important to the Richmond Football Club, and will continue to help us to thrive and win both on and off the field.”
