The Northern Territory’s Helen Lee has returned home from a trip of a lifetime, as part of her role as a 2022 Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassador.
Helen was one of seven community football representatives from across the country to be named as a 2022 Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassador and travelled to Adelaide Oval to be part of the 2022 NAB AFLW Grand Final between Adelaide Crows and Melbourne.
As part of the Grand Final festivities, Helen attended the official Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassador Grand Final breakfast, enjoyed a meet and greet opportunity with AFLW players and AFL General Manager of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone, and was part of the on-field presentation of the 2022 AFLW Premiership Cup, thanks to Chemist Warehouse.
In addition to the 2022 NAB AFLW Grand Final experience, each Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassador received a $1,000 grant from the Women’s Football Fund to donate to the club of their choice.
Established in 2021, the Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassador program was developed to recognise members of the female football community who have been instrumental in facilitating and nurturing the remarkable growth of women’s football.
The Arnhem Crows Football Club President has dedicated more than 15 years to growing football in Barunga, a remote indigenous community where Helen resides.
Helen’s passion for ensuring Indigenous peoples is represented in all aspects of life and in the community was the driving force behind the establishment of the first-ever full-time senior women's Indigenous community team for a Northern Territory football competition in the Big Rivers Football League.
In their inaugural year of 2020, Helen’s work organising players and sponsors saw them win the Grand Final. In 2021 Helen stepped in as the team manager to ensure the Indigenous women of the Barunga and surrounding communities had a sport they could look forward to and participate in. The women went on to win back-to-back premierships in 2021 a true reflection on Helen’s dedication and hard work.
“It’s such an honour to be here representing my club and community and spend time with other women in the game. What I like most about women’s football is developing the youth and empowering them to not only play the game, but become better leaders on and off the field so that they can one day take over and manage our club in the future,” Helen said.
AFL General Manager of Women’s Football, Nicole Livingstone said it was a terrific opportunity to come together and celebrate the contribution of this year’s Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassadors.
“We are proud to recognise each of our 2022 Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassadors and thank Chemist Warehouse for its support of the initiative,” Ms Livingstone said.
“The NAB AFLW competition is the result of many years of tireless work from dedicated people, like our 2022 Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassadors, so it was wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate their contribution and provide them with an unforgettable experience at the 2022 NAB AFLW Grand Final.”
Chemist Warehouse has supported the NAB AFLW competition since its inception and continues to champion women and female football across both the community and elite level.
Director at Chemist Warehouse, Mario Tascone said, “Chemist Warehouse is delighted to continue its support of the 2022 Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassador program and give back to these deserving community football members for their unwavering dedication to women and girls football.”