Like a bolt out of the red and blue

Updated November 2 2012 - 11:24am, first published February 20 2009 - 12:32pm
DEVOUT DEMON: Ballarat's Ralph Laurie, who was presented with the club's Gordon Lockhart Award as volunteer of the year at the Melbourne Football Club's annual general meeting this month.
DEVOUT DEMON: Ballarat's Ralph Laurie, who was presented with the club's Gordon Lockhart Award as volunteer of the year at the Melbourne Football Club's annual general meeting this month.

FOR as long as he can remember, red and blue blood has flowed through Ralph Laurie's veins.The devout Demons' supporter will do anything he can to help his beloved Melbourne Football Club.He never expected anything in return.Laurie was surprised when, "like a bolt out of the blue", he was presented the club's Gordon Lockhart Award as volunteer of the year at Melbourne's annual general meeting this month.Used to working behind the scenes, mostly with the Ballarat Demons supporter group, Laurie was put in the spotlight and shook hands with club legend and president Jim Stynes."Imagine an AFL player winning the Brownlow or best and fairest for his club - that's how I felt," Laurie said."I had Jack Watts, our first draft pick, come up and congratulate me."He's the sort of kid I'm usually cheering on."It was a real honour to think they (Melbourne) believe I'm doing a good job."Laurie said the award belonged just as much to his wife Roberta as it did to him.From their Daisy Hill home, near Maryborough, they have raised a Demon household with all their children and grandchildren instant Dees' fans.Not one has swayed in their devotion - even Laurie's mother and mother-in-law are red and blue, through and through.Laurie grew up in the La Trobe Valley where his own football career began and ended, when he instead focussed on the guys who could really play."I never would have been a very good footballer, so that's why I've tried to be a good volunteer," Laurie said."Volunteering is the sort of thing you cannot do on your own and my own wife has been instrumental."Laurie is keenly involved organising Melbourne supporter functions in the Ballarat district - his latest drew football operations manager Chris Connolly and assistant coach Mark Williams to Avoca - fundraising and helping to recruit members.At home games, Laurie is always outside selling club raffle tickets before trekking inside to lend his voice.He and his wife attend every Victorian game and, with family in Brisbane, any Queensland matches too.Laurie also slips down to Junction Oval to offer a hand when he can or catch a glimpse of training - a longer trip this year with Melbourne's move to its new Casey-base.He can also be found helping put together showbags for kids' clinics and Melbourne family days.The big Robbie Flower fan is excited about the future prospects of the club, even sponsoring indigenous youngster Jamie Bennell who he hopes will become the next Aaron Davey.Laurie said none of his efforts were to seek recognition, rather it was all about giving back to the club he loved, the team of the red and the blue.

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