Volunteer acknowledgment an honour for Harper
Wayne Harper was named Scottsdale Football Club’s Jenni Wilson Memorial Volunteer of the Year.
Sporting clubs simply can’t run without volunteers and the Scottsdale Football Club has honoured one of its most friendly faces.
Wayne “Squirty” Harper was recently named the Jenni Wilson Memorial Volunteer of the Year for 2026, around
30 years since he arrived at the Magpies.
Harper said he was humbled by the recognition and sad that he was away interstate on the night the award was presented at the club’s awards evening.
To him, footy is everything.
“I’m passionate about it and love it,” he said. “I wish I could still play but I am too old!”
Squirty’s typical Saturday starts in the trademark blue and gold uniform of his beloved Lions Club of Scottsdale to help on the gate before he changes into the black and white of the Magpies to assist with game day duties.
President Manuel Hall said the award recognises the spirit of someone who, like Jenni did, simply turns up, rolls up their sleeves, gets in and gets things done.
“Squirty is one of those people every football club needs. A former player and long-time supporter, he is always ready to put his hand up and help wherever he is needed,” Hall said.
“From organising the Thursday night meat tray raffle, looking after the club as Welfare Officer, preparing the game balls, organising gate rosters and escorting umpires, to being at the ground before 7am on home game days — if something needs doing, Squirty is your man!
“He is also the friendly face on the door at Club events, helps collect
auction donations and secure sponsorship, and always makes sure Luke (Fish) is picked up and ready to be part of game day — they are a much-loved duo around the Club.”
An on-baller and rover, Harper played most of his footy at Winnaleah before spending two seasons at Evandale.
“I was leaving Evandale and Rodney “Mole” Hill rang me up to see what I was doing and when I said I was coming back home and he said ‘well you better just stop off in Scottsdale on the way’ and I came here and have been here ever since.”
He started playing for Scottsdale in the mid 1990s, enjoying two seasons with the club back when it was part of the NTFL competition.
“We had a ripper side with all local blokes travelling from here to Smithton and back. I decided the travelling was too much and I thought I’d go back and have a go for one last year with Winnaleah but I played three games and hurt my knee and that was it.”
He now enjoys watching his son Jordan take to the field in the black and white while he is helping out around the club.
“I wouldn’t like to say how many hours I put in – probably too much – it is a full day, but at the end of the day I love it. We are a real team and after the games we get in and have a couple of beers and roll onto the next week.
“It is important to make sure the club is still here. If you don’t have volunteers, we are done.”
He’s already looking forward to getting back out to assist with the team in season 2027.
“We had a good season and it sounds like we have got some good new players coming which is good. We need about five good players to be where we need to be already.”
The club has made a start on that, in recent weeks signing a number of new players.
Ethan Hubbard from Longford is the club’s latest recruit.
Hall said Hubbard has established himself as one of the premier players in the NTFA Premier Division, bringing plenty of class and senior experience to the group.
“A versatile footballer with the ability to influence games through the midfield or across half-back, Ethan adds another exciting dimension to our senior side,” he said.
Hubbard joins recent signings Tallis Trudgeon from George Town while Healey Mather is returning from Queensland.
More announcements are expected in the coming weeks.