profile of a passionate demon

[True Believer 1]

Judee...a very passionate member. Thanks for all your hard work....

from MFC email....

Women of Melbourne Profile - Judy Nicolson, MFC Member

It’s no wonder that Melbourne Football Club Member, Judy Nicolson, has red and blue running through her veins; from the age of two, Nicolson would attend the football with her father and four siblings cheering on the mighty Demons.

It was during the days when football was raw, and it was mostly standing room only around the many grounds that housed the VFL clubs.

“My father started taking the five of us kids (to the football) when I was aged two. I hate to think of it now, but he would leave us all in the Grey Smith stand (MCG) and he would go into the men’s only area and then come back to give us a cup of tea at half time,” Nicolson says, laughing.

“I think we used to run riot, but the old ladies used to look after us.”

Today you will find Nicolson comfortably seated on level two, cheering on her beloved Demons, by their side through thick and thin. It was during the announcement of the possible merger between the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) and the Hawthorn Football Club in 1996, that Nicolson decided something needed to be done. She was not going to sit back while her club fell to the ground.

“I became fully involved with the Club just after the possibility of a merger, I was very anti-merger and I became quite riled up about it. A fellow member and I got a group of volunteers together and we go into the Club and cold call the members who hadn’t joined up, any of the lapsed members who hadn’t re-signed, and encourage them to sign up,” Nicolson tells.

“We had really great results from this and our knowledge and passion really got through to our fellow members.”

Nicolson has also been involved with various fundraising activities within the Club, and has raised funds for projects such as getting the jumper to go back to star forward, Liam Jurrah’s, community, where Nicolson had the privilege to present it.

A volunteer within the Club, Nicolson spends her time outside of the MFC working in a voluntary role within the Human Resources sector in recruitment as a mentor, after spending many years in the corporate sector as a HR Consultant. Nicolson also plays an integral role at the Port Phillip Prison, where she is a volunteer through the Red Cross.

“I assist the visitors who visit the high protection prisoners, and mainly offer counselling. I give them a shoulder to cry on, cups of tea and just guide them through the process of visiting this area,” Nicolson says.

“I sometimes work with people who are to be released that day and, for example, sometimes their partner may not show up, so we help them in that area.”

Nicolson is very much about the present, and looks forward to a bright future for Melbourne led by the experienced, such as James McDonald, and also the up and coming youngsters in the team such as Jack Grimes. She hopes the Dees can notch up eight to ten wins for the season, and then proceed to make the finals during Season 2011.

“I love our club - I feel it stands for integrity and passion, I just really love my boys,” she says with a smile.

[Winners at last 4,823]

She sounds like a fantastic lady.

I know another fanatical female demon supporter. I don't know if she reads this forum, but her name is Penny. She goes to every Victorian match and some interstate ones with her son and has contributed very significantly to the club. Unfortunately she hasn't been able to convert her Collingwood supporting husband.

[She Devil 64 21]

Judy is a fantastic lady. Extremely friendly to all. Loves the Demons and watching her boys play. Was at the Long Journey last night. Always checking if you are members.