WATCH: How Marong comes together around the footy club

The third and most recent destination in the 2023 WorkSafe Country Club series was Marong, located 17 kilometres west of Bendigo in central Victoria. 

The club is celebrating its 50th year and is thriving on and off the fielding, on top of the ladder in the Loddon Valley Football League after winning all three football premierships in 2022. 

It hasn't always been like that, with the club having only won one footy flag prior to last year. 

It's a place that brings the local community together and is driven by committed and passionate volunteers. 

Former club president and team manager, Darren Turnbull, explained the power of having a club that people want to be part of. 

"You see around here today all the kids walking around with Marong beanies, Marong jumpers. That hasn't happened for years.

"Some of our senior players have come right through from Auskick, right through into our seniors and play in a senior premiership."

Many parts of regional Victoria are faced with challenges. For Marong FNC, its catering for a growing population. 

The club's WorkSafe Country Volunteer of the Year nominee, Nicole Grant, said they're trying to grow in a sustainable way.

"We've had more and more kids coming in, and we're trying to build it one to two teams at a time to keep up with it. 

WATCH THE FEATURE ON THE FOOTBALL CLUB AND LOCAL COMMUNITY: