We would like to thank Vin Pistola who did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the match against Onka Valley on Saturday 1 June 2024.
Over the decades, Vin has cemented his legacy as a dedicated player, leader and supporter of Mount Lofty District Football Club.
Vin’s journey with football began in 1957 with the Aldgate Football Club colts, but it was in 1960 that he truly made his mark, playing U/16 football with the Stirling Football Club. That year was nothing short of historic, as all Stirling teams – A Grade, B Grade and Colts – clinched premierships.
Vin continued to shine in the U/16 colts until 1963, culminating in a premiership victory against the undefeated Bridgewater in the Grand Final.
Vin transitioned to Senior Football for Stirling in 1964, where he immediately made an impact in the B Grade and earned a spot on the B Grade Association squad. By 1965, he was playing A Grade and continued until his retirement in 1976 due to business commitments.
Vin’s leadership skills were evident as he served as Vice Captain for seven years, and his talent was recognised with numerous player awards, including the Best and Fairest award in 1976. Vin also represented the Hills League as an association player in 1967, 1968, and 1969.
Beyond the field, Vin’s commitment to the Stirling Football Club was unwavering. He was an active Committee member from 1966 to 1977, including three years as the Social Committee Chairman. Vin played a pivotal role in the merger meetings that led to the formation of the Mount Lofty Football Club in 1977.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Vin was granted Life Membership of the Stirling Football Club in 1977, a testament to his dedication and love for the game.
Vin said he has cherished every moment of his involvement with the blue and gold of the mighty Stirling Football Club, and today, we honour his remarkable journey.
Thank you sincerely on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty for all that you do for our club.
It is an honour to officially present our newest Life Member inductees, Bob Blows, Barb Evans and Jonathan Jaensch. Presented by our Chairman Peter Harvey with medallions, in front of a packed house of delegates, sponsors, committee, Lofty Legends, members and supporters at the annual and prestigious Chairmans Lunch on 11 May 2024.
We thank you for three for being such an amazing support and part of our amazing club history. Without people like you, our club would not be what it is.
Life Membership can be presented by any member to committee in reference to a person that has served more than 10 years intensive service *detail must be provided, which is then voted upon by a life membership committee, to be inducted at the current year AGM, and presented at the following year’s Chairman’s Lunch. The afore mentioned Life Member inductees were announced at the 2023 AGM in November, and present on 11 May.
JONATHAN JAENSCH | MT LOFTY DISTRICT FOOTBALL CLUB Jono could not be with us on the day due to a family event, he did send through an acceptance write up, however, we can tell you he was brought to tears at the 2023 AGM on hearing of his Life Membership induction. Jonathan “Sheepdog” Jaencsh is the person that every football club needs and thrives on. He started playing in the C Grade in 2011 playing in a Grand Final that didn’t go their way. In 2012 he played in B Grade and C Grade, unfortunately sustaining an injury which took him to hospital, and made the call to the coach that he would not be continuing playing. He did not let that stop him being a part of the club he loved. He came out and ran water for the boys that went on to win a Premiership. From there Sheepy has continued to be our clubs water runner every year, for mens, womens, junior boys, and junior girls. Until 2023, Jono was living in Seacliff so he was making the drive to Heathfield 5-7 days per week to make trainings and games for his beloved Devils over the 11 year period. There are not many Premiership photos on the wall in this period that do not feature Jonathan, highlighting his passion for his beloved Devils. In 2017 Jono was awarded the Mt Lofty District Football Club Frank Clements Club Person of the Year Award In 2019, he was awarded the Adelaide Football Womens League Volunteer of the Year Award. We are proud to announce Jonathan “Sheepdog” Jaensch a 2023 Mt Lofty District Football Club Life Member
BARB EVANS | MT LOFTY DISTRICT FOOTBALL CLUB Unfortunately Barb was feeling a little under the weather on the day, her son David was there in great spirits to accept her award and share some great memories. Barb Evans is a pillar of our Mt Lofty Football Club community and we’re thrilled to formally recognise Barb’s unwavering dedication and tireless contributions to our club. For decades, Barb was the driving force behind many essential activities that kept our club thriving. Barb established, managed and spent many hours working in our canteen, ordering the stock, picking up orders, arriving early on game day to get the pie warmers going and packing up after the games. Her attention to detail extended to managing the club kitchen, where she prepared meals for our players and supporters, leaving no stomach empty and no dish unwashed. Barb also catered for many major club events and managed external bookings for our clubrooms, welcoming organisations such as Apex, Rotary and Council with the same warmth and efficiency. Barb even once catered for the South Australian Governor! In addition to her culinary prowess, Barb’s generosity extended to providing transport for players, washing jumpers, and sewing on numbers. We thank Barb for everything she has done over many years and welcome her as a 2023 Mt Lofty District Football Club Life Member.
BOB BLOWS | STIRLING FOOTBALL CLUB Whilst Bob was feeling a little under the weather on the day, his grandson Paul was there to accept his award with great delight in front of other family members that joined us for the day. In the late 1950’s there are recollections of by young kids watching Bob run around as a Full Forward for one of our Heritage Clubs Stirling FC, kicking many goals per match. Sadly the statists of that era have been lost, but the memories certainly have not. It was brought to the attention of Mt Lofty District Football Club Life Member Committee in 2023, that on the final meeting of Stirling Football Club, on Sunday December 3rd 1978, a number of Life Membership Certificates were handed out, but sadly there was no honour board for which to display the recipients.Bob, was not photographed receiving a certificate, however neither was another mate Max, who is mentioned on the honour board. This has long been thought of as an administrative oversight.With strong recommendations for Bob to receive life membership for Stirling Football Club and much robust discussion around if Mt Lofty Football Club can in fact right this wrong, and award life membership for a heritage club, we are very excited to announce the induction of Bob Blows as a Stirling Football Club Life Member for 2023.Bob’s name has been added to the Heritage Club Life member board in the Foyer.
We would like to thank Barb Evans who is a Life Member of Mt Lofty District Football club and was invited to do us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the match against Mt Barker on Saturday 11May 2024 in front of the Arkaba Clubhouse.
Unfortunately, Barb was feeling a little under the weather on the weekend, so her son David, also a Mt Lofty Life Member, helped with the tossing the commemorative coin on Barb’s behalf for the match. David also accepted Barb’s medallion in front of a packed house for Chairman’s Lunch after his mother was inducted as a Life Member at the 2023 MLDFC AGM in November of last year.
Barb Evans is a pillar of our Mt Lofty Football Club community and we’re thrilled to formally recognise Barb’s unwavering dedication and tireless contributions to our club.
For decades, Barb was the driving force behind many essential activities that kept our club thriving. Barb established, managed and spent many hours working in our canteen, ordering the stock, picking up orders, arriving early on game day to get the pie warmers going and packing up after the games.
Her attention to detail extended to managing the club kitchen, where she prepared meals for our players and supporters, leaving no stomach empty and no dish unwashed.
Barb also catered for many major club events and managed external bookings for our clubrooms, welcoming organisations such as Apex, Rotary and Council with the same warmth and efficiency. Barb even once catered for the South Australian Governor!
In addition to her culinary prowess, Barb’s generosity extended to providing transport for players, washing jumpers, and sewing on numbers.
We honour Barb’s legacy and celebrate her well-deserved induction as a Life Member and the opportunity to have Barb, and to Dave to have join for the coin toss this week.
A HUGE thank you Barb from the MLDFC, for what some may deem a long overdue award in the recognition of your contributions.
David with Barb’s Life Member Coin Toss Coin – to be kept as a keepsake
Life Membership Medallion
Barb and Stan Evans with their children at the Barb and Stan commemorative plaque unveiling in 2023
We are proud to be announce that our new LEGENDS BAR is officially open.
Significant time, effort and hard work has gone in over the last few years to create a bar for our downstairs arena.
The Legends Bar deserves a worthy sign and the artwork developed shares some incredible snippets from our past.
You can soak up the memories and memorabilia of Mt Lofty and our Heritage Clubs’ history in the top level of the Arkaba Clubhouse, then come down to the legends Bar and enjoy the atmosphere.
Well done and thank you to those involved in the new bar and signage
It was wonderful to see some members of one of our heritage club Heathfield Aldgate United, take time to catch up at club sponsor Aldgate Pump Hotel, prior to season start. The Aldgate Pump Hotel has a wonderful history with HAU as the social gathering point over the years.
HAU footballers had a great time going through memories of the 44 year Australian Record of unbeaten matches, only beaten in 2020 by Queensland Club Yeppoon, in a 6-team competition.
Initially, our unbeaten run between 1971 and 1976 was calculated as 88 games, but an analysis several years ago revealed that it was “only” 87 games without loss.
The Frank Clements Club Person Of The Year Award is the most prestigious award of the club. Each year the recipient is presented with a certificate that reads as follows:
Mt Lofty Districts Football Club wish to show appreciation for the time and efforts donated in helping with the male, female and sub-junior areas of the club for the 2023 football season. Your support is an epitome of the Devils community club spirit, and ‘One Club – All In’ ethos.
The winner for 2023, as voted by our committees, is a treasured Club Person and trusted member of the Devils, Jenny Greenow.
Working across all grades, which is what we ask of this award, having been around the Devils for a number of years devoting most of her time previously to helping out when her son was playing, this amazing person has now taken on a role that the club could be nothing else but forever thankful for.
One of the biggest assets, in a club of 500+ playing members, especially in this day in age, is finding volunteers that are willing to come out and put their hand up to support purely for the love of a club.
This year’s award winner has done just that. With her son no longer playing, she has engaged with others to take the clubs canteen & BBQ arena to the next level. Helping with stock levels, ordering, pick up and delivery of food, game day work, kitchen hand, moddies & U12s on Friday’s, HFL on Saturday’s, SANFL & HFLW on Sunday’s, Auskick on their Arkaba Oval visits, being and integral part of upping our menu options and delivering an option for Friday nights for our kids that were never there before.
Congratulations to the 2023 Frank Clements Club Person Of The Year, Jenny Greenow.
