30-year milestones celebrated for Doris Mifsud and Lindal Whitton
Long serving passionate and dedicated Football NSW Staff Members Doris Mifsud and Lindal Whitton recently celebrated an incredible 30 years working at the Valentine Sports Park precinct, an enormous achievement for two well admired and adored individuals.
Amidst the gloom as NSW continues to come to grips with the pandemic that has shutdown the entire state has come some positive news of two integral staff members that have given their all and continue to do so for Football in NSW.
Known as the ‘Maltese Warrior’ around her fellow football peers, there is no one that works harder at Football NSW than Doris Mifsud.
Hailing from humble beginnings born in a tiny village called Qawra situated in the picturesque Maltese town of St Paul’s Bay, Doris made her way to Australia on the 1st of February 1974 in search of work and a better way of life as so many Europeans did at that time.
These pathways led her to Football NSW as Doris started working casually for the organisation as a 38-year-old in April 1991 and became a full-time employee in July 1991.
Now 68, the Head of Housekeeping for Valentine Sports Park has been a rock at the organisation.
She’s the first one on site, greeting each staff member with a smile and hello while working away, seeking no credit, quietly going on with her job before heading home to her lovely family.
Her work ethic is second to none, nothing is ever a burden for the modest “Maltese Warrior” who to this day, continues to churn out the long arduous hours without any complaints.
Moving across to yet another hard-working figure at Football NSW, there’s no one in the NSW football space at Club and Association level that doesn’t know who Lindal Whitton is.
Born in Ryde but raised in Baulkham Hills, a stone throws away from Football NSW headquarters, it was inevitable that this sport was going to inherit such a committed and devoted individual such as Lindal.
The always smiling administrator started working for the organisation on the 15th of July 1991 for the then NSW Soccer Federation as a fresh faced 17-year-old as an office junior assistant to all departments.
Following her time, Lindal was asked to work with Robert Wheatley to assist him with Schools Development and following Robert’s departure, found herself working in the Competitions Department alongside Rod Woods.
In 1998, Peter Thorne, who was the General Manager at the organisation, asked Lindal if she wanted to become his personal assistant to which she accepted and has continued on with that particular role to this day.
“I am very grateful to Peter for having the faith in promoting me to this role, he taught me so much whilst working for him and even when he retired in 2000, we still talk regularly to this day,” said Whitton.
Lindal then witnessed the NSW Soccer Federation and NSW Amateur Soccer Federation merger in 2001 when the two organisations became one and Soccer NSW was born that ultimately transformed into Football NSW which is what we have today.
From there on the loyal administrator continued to work as a PA under the then CEO Robert Waddell until she went on maternity leave for her third child in 2005.
Lindal returned to the company post maternity leave in 2006 and became the PA to the company’s then lawyer Peter Wilson before accepting the role in 2007 as the then Football NSW General Manager Ian Holmes’ personal assistant.
After Holmes’ departure in July 2011, Football NSW appointed Eddie Moore as the CEO and he appointed Lindal as his Executive Assistant which has been her full-time role serving the likes of Stefan Kamasz and now Stuart Hodge ever since.
Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge paid tribute to both Doris and Lindal’s commitment to the sport and organization.
“Those who have had the pleasure of meeting Doris and Lindal have always been met with warmth and gratitude.
“Both Lindal and Doris have been instrumental in servicing our members over many years.
“On behalf of everyone involved in football in NSW I congratulate Doris and Lindal on reaching such an incredible milestone.”
The two-form part of a dedicated group that has seen several other devoted Staff Members at Football NSW such as Debbie Abboud (33 years), Roy Ashpole (23 years) and Michelle Hanley (21 years) to name a few, eclipse the twenty-plus year mark at Football NSW.
Congrats on your milestone ladies, it is not everyday we celebrate milestones such as these.
