Football Australia has congratulated four members of the Australian football family who today have been acknowledged in the annual King’s Birthday Honours List.
A strong advocate for gender equality in Australia and globally, former Football Australia Director Moya Dodd AO leads the honours with the former Matildas’ vice-captain appointed an Officer (AO) in the general division for service to football as a player and administrator at the national and international level, as a role model to women, and to the law.
Dodd was recognised alongside another steadfast women’s football advocate, administrator and coach, Maria Berry AM. A former Chair of Football Victoria’s Women’s Standing Committee and Director of the former Victorian Soccer Federation and Australian Women’s Soccer Association, Berry was awarded a Member (AM) in the general division for significant service to football, to women in sport, and to business.
Former Socceroos’ striker, the late Alan Garside AOM (cap #148), was distinguished for his service to football with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the general division. Garside represented Australia in the 1950s with his influence extending far greater in the Granville Association in NSW. Mr Garside’s honour is awarded posthumously with the Socceroos legend passing in 2021.
Garside is joined in the Order of Australia Medals General Division by Football Australia National Indigenous Advisory Group member, Narelda Jacobs OAM. Jacobs, of proud Whadjuk Noongar heritage, has been recognised for her service to the media, and to the community thanks to her leadership and vocal advocacy regarding First Nations equality and over 20 years of success in the media industry.
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, voiced the football community’s pride in the recipients and their contribution to the game and Australian society.
“Through their invaluable deeds and advocacy, today’s four recipients have made a significant impact not only on football, but on their communities and Australia more generally,” Johnson said. “As a sport, we have been greatly enriched by Moya, Maria, Alan and Narelda’s involvement and we are enormously proud that they have been acknowledged in the King’s Birthday Honours’ List.”
“With the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ just weeks away from kicking off, we see the global magnitude of the tireless work of Moya and Maria to help build Australian women’s football over the decades and strive for gender equality in football.
“Football Australia is privileged to have Narelda as a member of the National Indigenous Advisory Group. Her expertise and passion for equality and equity for First Nations people has been a force for positive societal conversations and change.
“Through his exploits as a Socceroos, the late Alan Garside inspired generations of Granville players to be involved in football and once his international career finished, he and his family demonstrated how the game can help shape communities.”
“Football Australia congratulates all recipients recognised in the King’s Birthday Honour List 2023,” Johnson concluded.
HONOUR’S RECIPIENTS
- Moya Dodd AO (NSW): For distinguished service to football as a player and administrator at the national and international level, as a role model to women, and to the law.
A trailblazer in women’s football, Moya Dodd AO has been involved in football for over 40 years with her participation commencing as a player in the early 1980s. Her playing career saw Dodd rise to the level of Matildas cap #42, representing Australia at FIFA’s first-ever women’s tournament in 1988 and eventually becoming vice-captain of the women’s national team.
At the conclusion of her playing career, Dodd became a leading football administrator holding positions as a Football Australia Director, Asian Football Confederation Vice President, FIFA Executive Committee member and member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport. Dodd has been instrumental in championing and advancing gender equality initiatives and her efforts have transformed women’s football in Australia and globally.
- Maria Berry AM (VIC): For significant service to football, to women in sport, and to business. For over 40 years, Maria Berry AM is a participant in football as a player, coach, and administrator.
Berry has held a wide array of roles in women’s football including as Chair of Football Victoria’s Women’s Standing Committee, Director of the former Australian Women’s Soccer Association, Victorian Soccer Federation and Victorian Women’s Soccer Association.
Berry has also been a Team Manager for the Matildas and Young Matildas in the early 2000s. At the local level, she has coached women’s and girls’ teams for over 20 years and is a Life Member at Melbourne University Soccer Club. Maria Berry AM is currently a director for Women Onside.
- Alan Garside AOM (NSW): For service to football.
Alan Garside OAM made his Socceroos ‘A’ international debut in October 1955 against South Africa to become cap #148. A prolific striker at club level, he went on to play an additional four ‘B’ internationals between 1953 and 1957, scoring three goals.
A Granville football great, Garside commenced his career with the Granville Kewpies at the age of 11, and went on to represent his region, and New South Wales, with distinction at representative level before being selected for Australia.
- Narelda Jacobs AOM (NSW): For service to the media, and to the community.
Narelda Jacobs is a Whadjuk Noongar journalist, presenter, and commentator. Her media career has spanned more than two decades and seen her utilise her platform for positive social impact.
Jacob has been involved as a patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association WA, ambassador for the David Wirrpanda Foundation, Breast Cancer Care WA and the Disability Services Commission. She is currently a member of Football Australia’s National Indigenous Advisory Group ensuring First Nations people’s voices are part of the football conversation.
