SAJSA and all members send sincere congratulations to Philip Amato, Port Pirie Junior Soccer Association President, on the richly deserved award from the Port Pirie Council as detailed below.
2025 Port Pirie Regional Council Australia Day Awards Announced
Port Pirie Regional Council is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2025 Australia Day Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to the local community by individuals and an event that has made a significant contribution, both economically and socially, to the region.
The 2025 Australia Day Award recipients are:
Citizen of the Year: Philip Amato
Philip has contributed to the Port Pirie community for 45 years through selfless involvement with the Port Pirie Junior Soccer Association (PPJSA), the Virtus Soccer Club (VSC) and the Our Lady of Martyrs Blessing of the Fleet Committee.
Philip’s long-term commitment to these associations is inspiring – he is a generous and hard-working volunteer who is driven to build capacity for others to grow, whilst also bringing interest to the Port Pirie region.
Philip has truly enhanced community life as an active citizen, by being an enthusiastic organiser, coach and mentor in his roles at the Virtus Soccer Club and PPJSA. Hundreds, if not thousands of children have been able to come and try soccer, learn skills and game plans, be active, develop positive sportsperson attributes and participate in regional soccer carnivals due to his dedicated coaching and administration which began at only 15 years of age.
Philip’s contribution has seen him awarded Life Membership with the PPJSA, recognising 45 years of continuous coaching (ongoing today) and undertaking the role of President for 15 years during which he was instrumental in bringing the Country Championships to Port Pirie which is a major event not just for the soccer community but for the local community as a whole. His involvement with the VSC also recognises him as a valued committee member and coach of junior and senior teams.
Philip is also a Life Member of the Our Lady of Martyrs Blessing of the Fleet Committee and has been President since 2018. He works tirelessly to keep this significant cultural event going. His vision for this year’s 95th Anniversary ensured the Debutant Ball was highly successful with guests travelling from WA, NSW and Adelaide by using the slogan, ‘come home’. Many ex-Pirieans, along with the Bishop of Molfetta, made the journey which not only added to the success of the event, but also contributed to the local economy
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