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.
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 would like to thank Dennis Dolman, joined by his Granddaughter Alexis, who did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the match against Uraidla on Saturday 27 April 2024.
It was fantastic to see a heap of Den’s past players come out and watch him toss the coin for the day. Not only that, two of his past Premiership players in Sam Miles and Mark Nielsen still running around in our A Grade line up. A proud moment for both Dennis and the Club.
Dennis’s affiliation with Mount Lofty Football began when his son Shannon joined our Junior Colts ranks in 1992. Dennis’s playing days were spent at Walkerville Football Club where he has a Player Life Membership. Excitingly Shannon’s son, and Dennis’ Grandson has joined the Auskick program with Mt Lofty now too, extending the family tradition within the club.
It was in coaching that Dennis truly made his mark at Mt Lofty, working with our senior colts for almost a decade from 1995. Under his guidance, the senior colts reached the finals on eight occasions, culminating in four grand final appearances and two premierships, in 2002 and 1998. That year they went through undefeated. An impressive track record of success! Dennis was awarded the Sturt Football Club’s Country Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2001.
Dennis has also had significant impact behind the scenes at Mt Lofty, serving on the junior committee and overseeing our Auskick program. It’s worth noting the support of Hayden Cutting during Dennis’s tenure on the committee, highlighting the power of community at Mt Lofty. Dennis’ Grandson Elijah has joined the Auskick program with Mt Lofty now too, extending the family tradition within the club.
Impressively, Dennis took charge of the canteen for a two-year stint and, alongside Ralph Wadner, spearheaded extensive renovations. His dedication to enhancing the match day experience for players and supporters exemplifies club spirit.
Thank you sincerely on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty for all that you do for our club.
Dennis Dolman performing the Life Member Coin Toss
Dennis Dolman with Granddaughter Alexis
L-R Alexis, Shannon, Dennis and Jo on Dennis’ special day
We would like to thank Martin Ellis, who is a Life Member of our Heritage Club Stirling, who did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the match against Blackwood on Saturday 13April 2024 after entering the centre square through a guard of honour of the B Grade boys.
After entering the centre square through a guard of honour of the B Grade boys and honouring us, Martin joined his daughter Sarah on the sidelines to enjoy the experience with some other Lofty Legends.
Martin’s roots run deep within the foundation of our club, stemming from his days with Stirling Football Club. During the early 1960s Martin showcased his prowess on the field, clinching junior colts’ premierships in 1963 and 1964.
Martin transitioned to senior footy in 1965 and he played B Grade football for Stirling until 1977. Following the formation of the Mount Lofty District Football Club in 1978 through the amalgamation of Stirling and Heathfield Aldgate United, Martin played two memorable C Grade seasons in 1978 and 1979.
Martin’s contributions to Mount Lofty extend far beyond pulling on a guernsey. He is a well-known goal umpire for Hills footy, a role he’s embraced for decades. From officiating Mount Lofty’s U16s and U18s teams in the 1990s to presiding over A Grade football, including two grand finals, right up to again volunteering for this years B Grade team. Martin’s steady presence on the goal line has been a cornerstone of our club.
The Ellis family’s bond with Mount Lofty transcends generations, embodying the spirit of community that lies at the heart of our club. With Martin’s son and grandson gracing the field in red and white, and his daughter and son-in-law nurturing the next generation as trainers for our junior teams, the Ellis name is synonymous with our club.
Thank you sincerely Martin, on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty and Stirling for all that you do for our clubs.
Martin with daughter Sarah after the Life Member Coin Toss
We would like to thank Sarah Bennett who has been a Life Member of Mount Lofty since 2015, and did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for our match at Arkaba Oval against the 2022 Premiers, Lobethal on Saturday August 19.
Sarah’s dedication to Mt Lofty extends back close to 30 years and we have the Crafers Hotel to thank for that. To use her words, she “dabbled” in the social scene and after a few beers at the Crafers, agreed to be a trainer for the club. Her first game turned into a baptism of fire with the only trainer at the time, Richard Miles, having to take his son to hospital and in rather colourful circumstances took on the main role under guidance from Andrew Downes and John Bowes.
Things certainly looked up after that with Sarah being very fortunate to receive guidance from an incredible mentor in then Head Trainer, Joan Smith and also Margaret Cullen.
Sarah to this day, still assists the club as a back up trainer, after what seems like a lifetime of carrying out the role, including a couple of stints as head trainer. Her volunteer involvement over the years has covered many activities in addition to the training role – a couple of years on the committee, producing the Devils newsletter, organising social functions, developing and maintaining the club website, managing club email accounts, establishing social media accounts and creating promotional materials and assisting the Lofty Legends Group.
Little wonder then that Life Membership was conferred on this amazing club woman.
But, if this was not enough, Sarah was one of the inaugural players when Mt Lofty first fielded a women’s team in 2016 in the SAWFL, later ADFLW Comp before moving to the HFL. Bringing great knowledge of the game and the club to the young women, this lively forward who loved to kick a cheeky goal, was the ideal mentor while still strapping players before the game. Incredible to think that she debuted in her 40’s, returned to the game after a knee reconstruction and going on to play 51 games. Topping all of that though is the fact that she is the only player to have actually played her first football match ever as a Life Member of the club. Probably not too many in the entire history of the game to have achieved that.Sarah’s wonderful selflessness is best summarised with her words “Above all, I cherish the friendships, connections, my marriage, and the memories that have come from being part of MLDFC and the local football community. I’ve been lucky to work with a fabulous bunch including Megsy, Deb OB, Jessica and JoJo and the current crew of Sarah J, Lauren and Jason. As well as some awesome players, coaches, team managers, runners and other club volunteers.”
Thanks for everything Sarah!
WORDS FROM SARAH:
After dabbling in the social scene at the club in the 90s I agreed to be a trainer one Friday night after a few pints at the Crafers. Not really knowing what I had signed up for, I was fortunate to receive guidance from Joan Smith and Margaret Cullen. As head trainer, Joan was an incredible mentor and truly passionate about the role.
I was thrown in the deep end with my first game as a trainer – a trial match at Yankalilla. Richard Miles was meant to be there but when I arrived (wearing half of my meat pie and sauce lunch down the front of my white t-shirt), I found he had taken his son (Eddie) to hospital with a broken arm, and I was left with Andrew Downes and John Bowes to show me the ropes…
With a couple of stints as head trainer and over many years as a trainer, mostly for the super Bs, I’ve been lucky to work with a fabulous bunch including Megsy, Deb OB, Jessica and JoJo and the current crew of Sarah J, Lauren and Jason. As well as some awesome players, coaches, team managers, runners and other club volunteers.
Highlights of my involvement at Mt Lofty include the 2005 B-Grade season (my brother Tom and Rick both played in the team that went from wooden spooners to premiers), training alongside Rick when he coached the U15s, U17s and Bs, the most recent 2022 B-Grade flag, a couple of very memorable-for-all-the-wrong-reasons C-Grade games, and last but not least, the opportunity to play in the inaugural women’s team – perhaps the first (and last) person at the club to commence their ‘playing career’ after becoming a life member.
Other volunteer roles past and current include a couple of years on the committee, producing the Devils newsletter, organising social functions, developing and maintaining the club website, managing club email accounts, establishing social media accounts and creating promotional materials.Above all, I cherish the friendships, connections, my marriage, and the memories that have come from being part of MLDFC and the local football community.
Sarah with Husband Rick and Stepson JetSarah’s B Graders stay on the oval to watch her do the Life Member Coin TossSarah receiving a congratulatory hug from husband Rick on being presented with her Life Membership in 2015Sarah and Club Champion Brad Burch received Life Membership on the same night in 2015
We would like to thank Allan Miller who is a Life Member of our Heritage Club; Stirling, as did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for our match against Hahndorf on Saturday 22 July 2023.
Allan’s early years of football were certainly different to the way young people enter the game at such young ages these days with Hill’s clubs not having colts of any age group until the late 1950’s.
His career started as a teenager at Goodwood Tech where he said a real highlight for the school was defeating the visiting Collingwood Tech – nothing like the interstate rivalry. On leaving school, he joined South Adelaide Colts playing from 1948 to 1950 and played Reserves in the last minor round game of 1950 for a place in the finals. Travelling to Glenelg for the match he had to catch the bus to the city and then on the tram to the Bay and training with the club always saw him not return home, by train, until 10.00pm. Even though Allan had been added to the Senior League Squad at South, no assistance to travel to or from was forthcoming and so he joined Stirling, where he had been born and had lived his entire life until then.
What a decision that turned out to be, where he and his teammates became members of a select group, like Heathfield Aldgate United players, who played in consecutive A Grade Premierships over extended periods. Allan played in 6 Premierships in 9 seasons, including 4 in a row from 1952 to 1955. Two more Premierships in 1957 and 1960 was an incredible club performance and he played on until 1964.
The skilled two-sided player spent a few years at Half Forward and Full Forward until teammate Ray “Skully” Williams missed a few matches after an unfortunate report requiring Allan to move to Centre Half Back where he stayed for a few seasons, until returning to the forward line for the last years of his career. Obviously a versatile player, Allan was also a regular Lovelock Shield representative over quite a few years.
His sporting career was very impressive, including 3 League matches with Norwood in 1959, a member of A Grade Premiership sides with Stirling Cricket Club and 56 years of golf, only retiring from the game when Covid hit 3 years ago.
A Life Member of Stirling Football Club and Mt Lofty Football Club, he became a member of a special 4-person committee which managed the difficult job of bringing Heathfield Aldgate United and Stirling together to form Mt Lofty District Football Club and enter the new and progressive SAFA competition in the city. During this time, he was very grateful to his wife Janet who carried out secretarial duties at a time when the administrative load was heavy for the fledgling club. During his three years on the Mt Lofty Board Allan did get to see his son David, who had played for Stirling juniors, wear the red and white but unfortunately, serious injury saw an early retirement from the Devils.
Allan was a Stirling resident for nearly 70 years until he and Janet moved to retirement accommodation in Happy Valley.
Thanks for everything Allan!
Allan, Vice Captain, is pictured third from the right in the second row. This was his sixth and final A Grade PremiershipThe reunion of the 1960 Stirling A Grade Premiership in 2021. Allan is pictured third from the right.Allan and Janet at the 2021 Reunion.
