Kiama Power player and long-time volunteer Shellee Gibson has been awarded a new barbecue as part of Bunnings Warehouse’s Legends of the Tongs initiative.

The national campaign aims to recognise and reward community heroes who fire up the BBQ at local games each week - often the unsung champions behind the scenes of grassroots footy.

“Our Legend of the Tongs campaign celebrates some of the best parts of our local community,” said Bunnings Shellharbour complex manager Greg Sutton.

A couple of other Kiama Power volunteers with the Legends of the Tongs merch. Photo: Supplied

“Whether it’s at their local club grounds or as part of our weekly sausage sizzles, unsung heroes like Shelley tirelessly show up week in and week out to support their players and raise much needed funds for their clubs.”

Each week, five individuals are selected as Legends of the Tongs, receiving a Jumbuck Club 6 Burner BBQ, a two-piece BBQ tool set, a 3x3m marquee, exclusive merchandise - and a shot at becoming one of eight national finalists flown to the 2025 AFL Grand Final.

“It’ll be really good because cooking the barbecue every week raises funds for the club,” said Shellee. “And everyone loves the barbecue - the food, the smell, the atmosphere.”

In her application, Shellee shared what makes Kiama Power special: “We’re a small club run by volunteers. We always have music, the barbecue going - it’s just a great vibe and so good for the community.”

Shellee’s commitment to women’s AFL runs deep. Fifteen years ago, she was the driving force behind the Illawarra’s first women’s AFL team - the Wollongong Saints - where she took on the roles of president, treasurer, coach, captain, and player.

“We had to play in the Sydney competition because there wasn’t one here. So every week we travelled to Sydney. It was a big commitment - but it was the only way we could play,” she said.

Now playing and volunteering with Kiama Power for the past four years - including a premiership win - Shellee has witnessed the sport’s dramatic growth firsthand.

“When we first started, I was door-knocking businesses asking for $100 just to cover our registration fee - and people laughed at me. They’d say things like, ‘Girls don’t play footy,’” she recalled.

“But I kept knocking. Eventually, we raised the money. And now look at it - we went from no teams to one, and now there are around 15 or 16 women’s teams in the South Coast division. And women’s AFL has its own league - it’s on TV. It’s been amazing.”

In a couple of weeks, Shellee is set to play her 200th women’s Aussie Rules game for Kiama Power - a remarkable milestone for a grassroots footy pioneer who continues to inspire on and off the field.