Parklea Officer Junior Football Academy Squad Bio’s

The Officer Kangaroos JFC have elected to name their Junior Academy Squads after families that have had a long involvement and made long time contributions to the Rythdale-Cardinia, Officer and Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia (ROC) football clubs.

UNDER 9 SQUAD 

Squad name to be announced in the future.

UNDER 10 SQUAD 

Squad name to be announced in the future.

UNDER 11 SQUAD – The Snooks Family (Rythdale-Cardinia/ROC)

Wayne Snooks is a Cardinia local and commenced his football career with the Rythdale-Cardinia Under 17’s in 1973 and was runner up Best & Fairest (B&F) that year. He graduated to the Rythdale-Cardinia seniors in 1975 then moved across to ROC playing 257 senior games wearing the number 31 and kicking 309 goals. Wayne was the reserves B&F in 1985 & 86 and won the WGFL senior goal kicking in 1987 with 69 goals. He was always very dangerous around goal – an opportunist. Wayne made the ROC Team of the First Twenty Five Years selected at Full Forward. He was a member of the reserves 1989 premiership team (and was the WGFL leading goal kicker that year). Wayne’s coaching career commenced with the ROC U17’s in 1978 and coached them again in 1987-8 which included the 1988 premiership (the last ROC U17 flag). He was assistant coach for the U15’s in their premiership year of 1991 and coached the ROC Reserves 1991-93. He umpired in the WGFL (now SEFNL) since his football retirement in 1999 and is still going strong. Wayne is a ROC FC Life Member (LM).

Wayne married Verlinda who played ROC netball, and is an eight time club Best & Fairest (B&F) (including a league best & fairest in 1985) and is a multiple netball premiership player. Wayne and Verlinda have two children; Jenni played netball at ROC and brother Brad, played ROC juniors then went to Cora Lynn for a few seasons but suffered several injuries. He returned to ROC recently until injury/age caught up with him. Brad’s son Brodie currently plays with the OKJFC Under 12’s this year.

UNDER 12 SQUAD – The Pipicelli Family (ROC)

Pat Pipicelli has been involved with ROC since his children commenced sport at Officer. He has been a junior team manager (ROC Juniors from the late 70’s), a volunteer, committee member and selector. Today he can be found tending to the Officer Rec Reserve on a daily basis which he has done so for many years. Pat was awarded ROC Life Membership. Pat and Jeanette (dec) have six children. Sons Dean, Troy and Brad all played ROC juniors (starting U13 circa 1978). Dean (100+ games) and Troy (237 ROC senior games, premiership player U15, U17 and senior 1995) and Brad played some ROC reserves games.

Daughters Liza, Tracey & Tara all played ROC netball, played in multiple premiership teams, won club and league B&F’s and coached across all grades. Liza married Les Hawkins (ROC club B&F 1992 and premiership player 1995/6), Tracey’s partner Rob Young (is a ROC legend, 312 senior games 1995/96 premiership, 1991 WGFL four time club B&F (1987, 89, 91 & 93), club captain, interleague regular) their daughter Tess played ROC junior netball. Tara married Marc Bressan (ROC player 1997-99).

GIRLS UNDER 12 SQUAD – The Quinn Family (ROC)

Having worked tirelessly for both the junior and senior football clubs for many years, Maryanne Quinn can be found in the canteen on match days or cooking meals for players on Thursday nights (cricket). Recently Maryanne was awarded a ROC FC life membership. The Quinn boys and girls all have played football and netball at ROC with Laura currently ROC Netball President. Kevin played 139 senior games including a joint club senior Best & Fairest in 2004, Peter played 171 games with Brendan playing as well. James was originally a club boundary umpire for a number of years then went on to become a league boundary umpire officiating in several WGFL and EDFL finals and grand finals.

UNDER 13 SQUAD – The Gilbert Family (Officer/ROC)

Kevin Gilbert (dec) is an Officer and ROC football club stalwart. He is the clubs’ longest serving secretary (1984-97), has been a committee member, league delegate, team manager and property steward. Kevin started playing football around 1954 in the Officer juniors winning “Most Determined” in 1956. He moved into the seniors and in 1958 he won the “Most Improved” player followed by “Best Club Man” in 1960 when he was only 20 years at this stage. Kevin played in the Officer 1961 premiership team and played most of his football as a half back flanker and wore the number 3. He stopped playing in 1962 due to work commitments. Kevin’s wife Margaret worked in the canteen and washed footy jumpers for years. Kevin and Marg’s children are Darren (played juniors and reserves football) and Andrew also played all juniors and seniors (150 games) at ROC including 1989 reserves premiership. Andrew (and wife Gillian) are founding committee members of the OKJFC with Andrew a coach/asst coach for ten years. Son’s Blake and Austin played with the OKJFC then moved to the ROC seniors.

Kevin’s mum Evie was a long time club volunteer (canteen) and even in her much later years would attend all ROC home games and could be heard cheering (loudly) the boys on from her car parked next to the home coaches box.

UNDER 14 SQUAD – The Porter Family (Officer/ROC)

Geoff (Potsie) Porter started playing football in ROC juniors in the U11’s in 1979, and played in premierships in U15 (1983), U17, was captain (1985), reserves 1988, 89, 94, 95 playing 217 games. Geoff has worked tirelessly around the rec reserve for 35 years and has coached and been committee member of the OKJFC from 2006-15 (inc SEJ volunteer of the year 2015) and previous to that with Officer Auskick for eight years. Geoff was recently awarded a ROC FC Life Membership. Wife Jayne played netball for ROC, played in multiple premiership teams, has coached and been a committee member. Geoff and Jayne’s sons Lachlan and Callum both played OKJFC juniors with Callum winning eight club B&F’s, a SEJ League B&F 2014 that included four time r/up.2011, 12, 13. He spent 2016 and 2017 at Gippsland Power (Club B&F 2017) and was drafted by the Western Bulldogs in November 2017. Geoff’s father Rob is a decorated Officer player (member 1961 premiership team and 1961 SWGFL B&F winner) and played at Hawthorn in 1962-3 followed by a year at Dandenong VFA then returned to Officer as a player. Rob is a ROC LM and has coached both junior and senior teams and has looked after the Officer Rec Reserve as a volunteer for more than fifty years. Rob is married to Carol (nee Gilbert) OAM who was involved in the ladies auxiliary (canteen) and is a ROC FC LM. Youngest son of Rob & Carol, Gavin played through ROC juniors. James (Jim) Porter (Father of Rob, grandfather of Geoff and Gavin) was a club volunteer and was involved with the Officer Recreation Reserve Committee for many years. Clive Gilbert (Father of Carol, grandfather of Geoff and Gavin) was Officer FC secretary for many years and served as time keeper for the seniors right up into his seventies.

GIRLS UNDER 14 SQUAD 

Squad name to be announced in the future.

UNDER 15 SQUAD – The Tivendale Family (Officer/ROC)

The name Tivendale is synonymous with the township of Officer (which includes a road named after them) with origins dating back to the very early days of the district. To connect the two modern day families that we know today, we have to start back with James and Catherine Tivendale (m. 1877). They were owners of the Officer General Store and had two children George (b. 1878) & William (b. 1881).

George Tivendale was one of the original founders of the Officer Recreation Reserve in the 1920’s along with Isaac Wright (a Life Member whose grandchildren are Robin McCoubrie Life Member and Judy Flynn).

John Tivendale (along with brothers Malcolm and Ken) are George Tivendale’s grandsons. John started playing football for Officer when he was 12 in the Under 17’s around 1957 and was known as a goal sneak. In his last year as a junior he nearly played all season in the seniors. He wore jumper mumber 22 and played most of his football on the ball and the wing. He spent two years in National Service and when he came home he played again with Officer and was runner up Best and Fairest in 1969. He won numerous other awards (but we have no record of them), he injured his shoulder and played only sparingly over the next five years retiring in 1975. John is a ROC Life Member and married Tina, ROC netball legend, multiple premiership player and coach. Their children have all been involved with ROC. Greg (ROC juniors, club U15 B&F 1993-4, 1994 WGFL U15 B&F, club U17 B&F 1995, Gippsland Power, Richmond AFL 182 games), Kelly & Amy (netball premiership players) and Ben (played juniors at ROC (from U13 in WGFL), has currently played 302 senior games, six time club B&F, 2002 premiership player, club captain 2002-04 [joint] and 2008-2014).

Malcolm Tivendale (dec) married Lynne and have sons Grant who played ROC juniors U13 upwards and 175 senior games and is the only ROC player in history to have played a premiership in all grades (U15 1983, U17 1985, Reserves 1988/89, Seniors 1995). Grant’s step son Jack Callender currently plays in the Officer seniors. Grant’s brother Ashley played ROC juniors and some reserves games.

William Tivendale’s grandchildren are Gary (Cheeky), Ian (Sam), Michael, Neil, Barry (Pud) and Doug (Freddy). Gary (Cheeky) Tivendale played over 150 games for ROC, was the club senior best & fairest 1986, member of the reserves 1989 premiership, a ROC Life Member and currently involved with the senior club. Gary and Di’s sons Jake and Mitch played football for ROC and daughter Bronte netball. Sam’s son Jason played ROC junior football and daughter Kylie a ROC netballer. Barry, played reserves for ROC (premiership 1988), then went on to become an umpire for the WGFL. Doug (Freddy) also played for ROC and was a member of the 1988 and 1989 reserves premiership teams.

Many a football club social event was held at the home of the boy’s parents Hugh & Jean Tivendale in Bayview Road.

UNDER 17 SQUAD – The Moylan Family (ROC)

Brothers Michael and Aaron Moylan are products of the ROC Juniors commencing in the U15’s at as twelve year olds. Mick played 306 games, club B&F 2000, club captain 2000-2004 [joint], premiership player 1995, 1996 & 2002.   Mick was a gritty and determined player that had pace and read the game well. He was universally respected as a tough, skilled and courageous footballer.

Aaron made his senior debut at 15 years of age (1994), played 145 games, winning a club B&F in 1998, an interleague representative, and premiership player 1994 (reserves), 1995, 1996 and 2002 (seniors). Aaron was a rugged inside player who had no fear and his attack on the ball was relentless. He could be seen navigating his way through traffic, ball in hand hitting up his forwards. His versatility often saw him used as a third man up to give his team mates first use of the ball at boundary throw ins.