Bomber Birrell: Kyabram Football Netball Club president John Guinan and Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell (front and centre) with footballers and netballers who were involved in a training session last week.
Working in a senior advisory role to a federal politician is a daunting proposition for most people, but when you are one of 12 children there are few challenges life throws at you that could match the battle to secure bathroom time or find a seat at the dinner table.
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Tawnee Vocale is a reasonably new addition to Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell’s team and was right by his side at Kyabram Football Netball Club recently.
She started with Mr Birrell in April, having spent some time as a communications officer for CPB Contractors in Melbourne on the level crossing removal project between Caulfield and Dandenong.
“When COVID-19 hit I moved back home and was offered a role as a team support officer for a state government program called GROW Greater Shepparton,” she said.
She is one of 12 children for Kyabram couple Rosalind and Bob Vocale, a product of Girgarre Primary School and Kyabram P-12 College before she completed her VCE studies at Melbourne Girls Grammar.
For the record, her siblings’ names (in order of the 12, from the same parents) are Lee, Jade, Fleur, Layce, Tye, Rory, Arielle, Jedd, Tiah, Kahn, Tawnee (number 11) and Kiana.
Mr Birrell trained with Kyabram footballers and netballers on a wet night at Kyabram Recreation Reserve, with his Kyabram-raised community engagement officer right by his side.
Wearing the number 23 guernsey of Queensland-based senior star Rhys Clark, Mr Birrell was put through his paces as part of a program that has seen him train with Broadford, Longwood, Girgarre, Picola, Congupna, Mooroopna, Murchison, GV Giants Masters, Avenel and, on August 31, Cobram.
For Ms Vocale, the football club was a familiar setting, as she is the partner of senior footballer Cooper Vick.
“We originally dated in high school (in 2016) before I moved to Melbourne,’’ she said.
“We have been together now for just under two years and live together with our fur baby, Buddy.’’
Ms Vocale played netball for Girgarre for two years, winning a best and fairest in 2016.
She is planning a return to netball next year after a seven-year break.
She is currently the senior netball co-ordinator at Kyabram.
It is an exciting time for her and eight of her 11 siblings, as Carlton is the majority choice of AFL team in the Vocale household.
Ms Vocale recently completed the four-month Fairley Youth Leadership Program, giving her an insight into what could be done in the region to improve people’s lifestyle.
She has not-so-hidden ambitions to one day have the initials MP after her own name.
“When I first started with my state government role I was told that I could be seen in with the politicians one day,’’ she said.
“Right before I started my current role with Sam I was told by a different person that I will become the first female Indigenous Prime Minister.’’
Ms Vocale explained that her partner had gone out of his way to ensure her “boss’’ was looked after on the training track.
“Some of the boys said that it was his best training yet,’’ she said.
“It was fantastic to see the boys very welcoming and inclusive, a great way to shine some spotlight on our local football netball club.’’
Kick it to Sam: Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has trained with almost a dozen football netball clubs this year in his expansive electorate. He was at Kyabram last week, where the partner of one of his staff is a senior footballer.
Footy family: Cooper, Tawnee and their dog, Buddy, in Kyabram recently. Tawnee started with Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell as community engagement officer in April and is also the senior netball co-ordinator at Kyabram Football Netball Club.
