A Woodridge father who has taken his love for the world’s most popular sport, and used it to support those in need, was honoured yesterday at the 2022 City of Logan Volunteer Awards.
Abdul Samim Khan is the founder of the Logan Roos Football Club in Woodridge and the winner of the Frank Lenz Memorial Award for Volunteer of the Year.
Since the club’s inception six years ago, Logan Roos has become a home away from home for more than 200 people, including 150 players from 33 different nationalities.
Under Mr Khan’s guidance, the club provides not just football (soccer), but also transport and food for its players and their families, many of whom come from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Mr Khan, who also single-handedly maintains the club’s field every week, was praised by City of Logan Mayor Darren Power for his ongoing service to the community.
“Those who volunteer in our City’s sporting organisations are true champions and Mr Khan is undoubtedly among our best.”
“With Mr Khan at the helm, Logan Roos is using sport in the very best way – to transcend barriers and create opportunities for young people and their families.”
“It is an honour to recognise his efforts, alongside those of our City’s other fantastic volunteers this year.”
The Rotary Club of Beenleigh won the Davida Steele Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Organisation.
The club, now in its 69th year of service to the City of Logan community, was recognised for its efforts to revive the historic Beenleigh Cane Gala Ball & Parade in 2021.
The previous annual parade, which was first established more than 60 years ago in celebration of local sugar cane farming, had not been held since 2014.
The 2021 event raised $16,000 for the youth literacy project ‘Sugar Sweet Stories’ in local schools.
First-time nominee and Logan Village SES volunteer Chelsea Grewcoe is the City of Logan’s Young Volunteer of the Year.
Ms Grewcoe, who lives in Buccan, joined the SES in January last year and has since volunteered more than 280 hours to training and responding to emergencies across the city.
She’s also regularly given up her weekends to help train emergency service cadets.
A Spirit of Logan Award has also been awarded to the ‘Mud Army’ organised by the Logan House Fire Support Network.
The community-based volunteering crew spent 33 days clearing rubbish, cleaning houses and providing much-needed support to those impacted by flooding in March.
The 2022 City of Logan Volunteer Awards, which included a thank-you brunch for local volunteers, was held at the Logan Entertainment Centre.
Australian Test cricket legend Glenn McGrath was the special guest.
