Sport
6 June, 2025
Harcourt FNC volunteer Buzz Nunn recognised as a ‘Legend of the Tongs’
Buzz Nunn has been a staunch supporter and volunteer of the Harcourt Football Netball Club for 30 years, earning himself recognition as Bunnings' Legend of the Tongs initiative.
The Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League looked vastly different 30 years ago.
Teams like Avoca, Dunolly, and Natte Bealiba weren’t in the league, now former teams like Chewton, Primrose, Maryborough Rovers, and Royal Park were recent premiers and Harcourt certainly wasn’t having the riches of success they’ve achieved in the last half-century.
However, among things that have remained a constant over the past three decades has been the presence of dedicated volunteer Buzz Nunn at the Lion’s Den.
Ever since his son and daughter joined as junior players, Nunn has assisted Harcourt in various avenues and can still be seen on the barbecue or helping good mate Gary Selwood on the gate at home games.
For his unwavering support of his local club, Nunn has been recognised for the Bunnings Legend of the Tongs initiative, a celebration of volunteers who sacrifice their time to fire up the barbecue at their local football clubs.
For his nomination, Nunn has earned Harcourt a new Jumbuck six Burner Barbecue and a Bunnings pop-up marquee.
He’s also in the running for a trip for two to attend the Toyota AFL Grand Final and to be named Legend of the Golden Tongs, which would win Harcourt $25,000 in Bunnings products and materials.
While he doesn’t do volunteering for the recognition, Nunn said he’s thankful for Bunnings’ support of community volunteering.
“I’m a bit of a quiet person, I don’t like being out in the spotlight, but Bunnings is doing a great thing supporting the local clubs, every little bit helps,” he said.
“I just enjoy the pleasure of helping out, doing something for the club, and the social side of it, that’s what volunteering is all about.”
Availability of volunteers like Nunn has been a constant issue for sporting clubs across central Victoria.
According to the Federal Government’s 2023 National Strategy for Volunteering, 83 percent of organisations need more volunteers.
Nunn encourages others to pick up the tongs, collect raffle tickets, or help run the canteen for their local club.
“Nothing will happen without volunteers, anything the clubs can get that can help them out is a great thing,” he said.
“There are a lot of good volunteers at all clubs — when I started coming over I found that it’s the same old people doing the same thing all the time.
“I’ve backed off a bit, I don’t do as much as I should, but other ones are stepping up and that’s the whole idea, you have got to back off a little bit to let the young ones step up and take over.
“I’m thrilled with how the club has been running the last few years because at one stage the club was hardly existing back in the earlier days, and thrilled in Bunnings for doing what they are doing.”
Nominations for Legend of the Tongs remain open until August 24, 2025, for more information and to nominate a football volunteer, visit bunnings.com.au/legends.