By Chris Lees
JOSIE Rogers has seen so much throughout her 40-plus years in the Mackay AFL competition.
So it's going to be a big job filling her shoes. Rogers has stepped down as secretary with AFL Mackay.
"I'd love to continue but it's getting too much for me now," the 75-year-old said.
Rogers saw her first game of footy in 1973, an East Mackay Australian Football Club - which has now become the Eastern Swans - match.
"We didn't even know there was Aussie Rules in Mackay at the time," she said. "At the end of that year (me and husband Mick) became members and then the next year we got right into it."
Rogers said one of her early memories was looking after the canteen at Harrup Park, when all that was there was an oval and a shed. "All that was in the canteen was an old bathtub full of XXXX Gold stubbies, which we sold for 50cents and potato chips," she laughed.
One of the highlights of Rogers' 43 years with the game in Mackay was in 2006, when the Swans' oval was named after her and her husband, Mick.
When asked about the honour, Rogers got visibly emotional.
"When we drove into the ground there was a sign with a big sheet over it, and I had no idea what it was," she said.
"Then they pulled the sheet off, and it was amazing, it was just an incredible feeling."
After more than four decades in the game, Rogers list of awards is longer than your arm.
She's a life member of Eastern Swans and AFL Mackay. She has also won many other sports and volunteer awards.
Last year she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her work with the Aussie Rules committee.
Although Rogers has stepped down from official duties with the league, she will have plenty to keep her busy.
Before online records began, registrations were taken on, shock, just paper.
"I still have all those sheets, so I hope to be able to bring that all up to date," she said. "I want to get a book together of all the grand finals, from 1970 right up to now."
"Also in 2019 the league is going to be 50-years-old, so we need to put a book together for that too."
AFL Queensland Mackay regional manager Jeff Neumann said Rogers was a massive loss.
"It's not just a massive loss for football here in Mackay but the state of Queensland as well," he said. "You might lose the heartbeat of footy a little bit but Josie is still going to be around, and we'll make sure we keep her involved."
Don't think you won't see Rogers around the ground, she'll be there, watching.
The amazing Josie Rogers
- Josie Rogers began in Aussie Rules in 1973.
- The Eastern Swans Oval, is named after Josie and her husband, Mick.
- Josie received an Order of Australia Medal last year.
- She is a life member of AFL Mackay and the Eastern Swans.
Last Modified on 12/01/2016 15:24