IAN "Daffy" O’Donnell has been involved with Swifts all his life.
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There have been five generations of O’Donald’s involved with Swifts and Daffy said it started with his grandfather Jack, who was a trainer in the 1940s.
“My grandfather (Jack) didn’t play for the Swifts but was a trainer. My father (Geoffrey) was a premiership player and a past president along with other places at the committee,” he said.
Daffy’s uncle Ivan was a past president and committee member while his brother David is a past president, vice-president, player, committee member and life member.
His daughter Sarah Parker and son Damien O’Donald also played for Swifts.
“I also have some granddaughters in mods at the moment who will hopefully one day play up the grades,” Daffy said.
Daffy has been a past president, secretary and committee member. He played more than 300 games for the club.
He is currently the vice-president and has received the honour of life membership as well as being inducted into the club’s hall of fame.
“(The club) means a fair bit to my family and I,” he said. “I’ve been involved with the club for so long… I was a mascot when I was five.”
Daffy’s latest project is getting the club rooms and netball changerooms upgraded.
“The main thing is to get the North Park club rooms upgraded for the whole community,” he said.
“Football and netball are the main contributors but it will benefit the schools, amateur athletics clubs, firefighters ... everyone will benefit.
“Another thing that has been worked on has been the netball changerooms. They will be started in November and finished in February.”
Daffy said there were countless volunteers and supporters of the club who deserved recognition.
“There are a lot of people like me here who have done a lot for the club,” he said.
“What it is all about is seeing the kids carry through. We try to help that out, but not only that – we also offer kids’ development.
“We also try to create a good, family orientated club and I think we are achieving that at the moment.”
Swifts senior football side has been exceptional in 2017 with senior, reserves and under-17s still in the Horsham District league finals mix.
Daffy said it had been a great year for the club.
“We’ve always tried to be competitive,” he said.
“The under-17s have been great this year and have been playing some really good footy, finishing second and gaining that second chance.
“All the coaches in football and netball have been exceptional.”
Daffy got his nickname when he was a young footballer and his teammates said when he ran he waddled like a duck.
