23 May, 2008

The AFL Players' Association is pleased to announce that Andrea Slattery, mother of Essendon's Henry Slattery is the winner of the fourth annual AFLPA / Kangaroos Network of Women (KNOW) Mother of the Year award.

Andrea's win was announced at a gala cocktail function held at Life Saving Victoria and co-organised with the Kangaroos Network of Women celebrating the tremendous contributions of all mums.

Nominated by son Henry, Andrea was judged Mother of the Year by a panel consisting of Karen Lyon from The Age, Jo Curkpatrick from the Kangaroos Network of Women, National Ovarian Cancer Network CEO Karen Livingstone and AFLPA Chief Executive Officer Brendon Gale.

In his nomination, Henry Slattery, who has so far played 39 games for Essendon after being recruited at #46 in the 2004 National Draft and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, paid tribute to his mum Andrea's long term contribution towards his and indeed his entire families' holistic development

The Slattery's are a family oh high achievement with the eldest Slattery son studying Medicine as a post graduate student after completing a physiotherapy degree as well as playing for the Redbacks SA cricket side second XI.

The second eldest Slattery son is also studying medicine as a post graduate student after completing a PhD in Biomedical Science and also plays senior football in the Queensland Football League.

The third eldest Slattery son has just entered the Bar as a lawyer and works for law firm DMA Phillips Fox in Melbourne as well as returning back to Adelaide to play for Central Districts in the SANFL.

The Slattery family achievements don't end there with Andrea Slattery having started her own national business - and is CEO of the Self Managed Super Funds Professionals' Association of Australia whilst Henry's father Paul is also a barrister and was the last Australian person to be admitted as a Queens Council.

A percentage of money raised from the event was donated to OvCa - the National Ovarian Cancer Network.

Previous Mother of the Year Award winners

2005 Maree Selwood, mother of Adam, Troy, Joel and Scott Selwood

2006 Libby Wakelin, mother of Shane and Darryl Wakelin

2007 Lizzie Corrie, mother of Alwyn and Aaron Davey