Shane (Butch) Forge has coached in the Yarrawonga District Little League from 2008 to 2019 where his sons Jack, Lochie and Zac have played.
That’s Friday night’s matches, taking training two nights a week and umpiring most weekends.
He coached Yarrawonga Junior Comp U16s (Lochie) and is the 2021 Organiser of teams heading to Rand Sports Carnival each year. Butch was instrumental, along with a great bunch of people, in getting the annual Yarrawonga Sports Carnival off the ground in 2017.
“Water boy, boundary umpire, coach assistant or whatever was thrown at him every weekend at the Rennie Football Netball Club - when his sons and daughter played football and netball - Butch did it,” Godfathers President Graham Wilson said at the presentation last Sunday, at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort.
“Butch’s business STF Engineering has been sponsor of Yarrawonga Football Netball Club, Rennie Football Netball Club, Yarrawonga Mulwala Representative Basketball, Yarrawonga Tennis Club, Yarrawonga Tennis Club Junior Club Championships, Mulwala Cod Classic, Sponsorship of students on the Kokoda Trek through the Yarrawonga College P-12.”
It was a surprised 2021 Godfather of the Year, believing he was going to the club resort for a meal. “I’m really surprised,” Butch said. “I love being involved with the junior side of footy.
“It’s been part of my life for many years and I thank my wife Kate for her support. Whatever I do I just do it.”
A big round of applause followed from those who played in the annual Godfathers Golf Day.
The 48-year-old has also been on several committees, presently being on Yarrawonga Holiday Park and past member of Yarrawonga P-12 College and Yarrawonga Junior Football.
He has played over 500 games of junior and senior football, initially with Rand, followed by Rennie, then Yarrawonga.
This total includes 133 senior games with the Yarrawonga Pigeons where he was vice captain in 1999 and deputy vice-captain in 2000.
At Rennie, he put on the Grasshoppers senior jumper 137 times and was captain and assistant coach in 2003 and 2004, and vice-captain in 2005.
Butch’s all-time football games record reads: Rand 3rds - 30 games, Rennie 3rds (82; B & F 1988), Yarra 3rds (6); Rennie 2nds (35; B & F 1989); Yarra 2nds (112; B & F 2002, captain 2005; coach 2008, 2009); Claremont, WA (2); Rennie 1sts (137); captain and assistant coach 2003 & 2004; vice-captain 2005, runner-up B & F 1990, 2005; B & F 2003, 2004 League runner-up 2004); Yarra 1sts (133); vice-captain 1999, deputy vice-captain 2000. Wembly, WA (12). That’s an overall total of 549 games!
In his working career, Butch was always well recognised. While undertaking his apprenticeship at the Mulwala Explosives Factory he travelled to Geelong for trade school where he was Apprentice of the Year in his first, second and third years.
Butch started his own business at STF Engineering in 1999. In 2002 he employed his first apprentice, Christopher Brear who to this day is still employed with him. In that same year he purchased a block of land and built a shed in Melalecua Street.
He also has taken on several workplace students over the years, has employed eight apprentices and currently has two fully qualified tradesman and two apprentices.
Shane Forge is a much-deserved 2021 Godfather of the Year.
10°C