Cardinia Life’s Jake Ward has been recognised as Aligned Leisure’s inaugural Bunjil Award winner.
The Bunjil Award is the Richmond Football Club and now Aligned Leisure peer-nominated award that recognises individuals who best role model the values.
Bunjil is an Indigenous story about the land surrounding Punt Road Oval. Bunjil and his warriors are strong and powerful symbols of each of the Aligned Leisure values and their story also honours our commitment to community.
2017 marks the 4th year of the awards across the club, with each year focused on celebrating a single value – the 2017 value is UNITED.
In presenting Ward with the award at Punt Road Oval on Friday, Director of the Korin Gamadji Institute Aaron Clarke described Ward as “an infectious character around Cardinia Life”.
“Jake takes great interest in all aspects of the centre and is only too willing to help out”, highlighted Clarke. “Whether he is supporting his peers or inspiring and motivating members to achieve their goals; Jake is always lifting other spirits”.
In accepting the award, Ward humbly noted that he “loved coming to work and being around great people. I can often be a distraction as I wander around giving out high fives; but hopefully I leave everyone with a smile on their face when they get back to work”.
Other winners of the 2017 Bunjil awards were Richmond Football Club recruiter Luke Williams, receptionist Morgan Wyatt and vice-captain Jack Riewoldt.