The Yackandandah Football and Netball Club life members have held volunteer roles with Yackandandah since moving to town from Myrtleford close to 40 years ago, having traveled between the two towns for four years before settling.

John quickly became known by locals as 'Butcher' after taking on the butcher shop, while Jenny was a permanent fixture behind the club's canteen.

The pair have seen many changes to the club in that time, and in some cases, played a role in seeing those changes come into play.

John recounts lending a helping hand to get Yackandandah's senior and reserve sides back up and running after a player shortage saw them unable to fill sides in 1968.

By 1972 the club had a senior and reserves team again.

"I was still living in Myrtleford and played basketball in those days and we used to have a truckload of prisoners that would come down and play," he said.

"Because there wasn't enough numbers here, me and an old mate, Don Damn, went to the jail at Beechworth and spoke to the governor to see if we could get some players to make up numbers.

"He ummed and ahhed for a little bit and then said if you can get a warden to drive a truck, I'll supply a truck for as many people as you like.

"I knew one of the wardens up there so I went and saw him and he said 'Butch, it's my only day off.'

"He then said 'yeah, alright'.

"He used to bring a truckload of prisoners who used to come and play seniors and seconds.

"The only thing was they couldn't go across the border.

"One bloke, who was a pretty good footballer, became mates with a Salvation Army bloke and got him to bring him down when we went across the border.

"But he got the best on ground at East Lavington one day and did I get a rev from the governor.

"I got a call on Monday morning saying 'John I want to see you!'

"We smoothed it all over and worked it all out.

"It helped get the club going again, it's as simple as that."

Family is what kept both John and Jenny tied to the club as the years rolled on, with sons John and Paul playing football and daughters Tania and Tracey playing netball for the Roos.

"Back then there was no netball played with football, netball was played on a Sunday and footy on Saturday," Dale said.

"I'd have the boys at footy and Jen would have the girls at netball.

"She (Jenny) got on the committee and helped get it changed to have the netballers play on a Saturday with the footballers. I think it made it easier for people.

"While you're enjoying it and you're doing it with your kids, that's the aim of the game."

The Dales have now also seen their grandkids come through the club.

In 2017 grandson Lee Dale took home the league's Barton medal before topping it off with the club's senior best and fairest award for the same season.

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The award holds a special meaning to the family with it referred to as the J and J Dale best and fairest trophy, a symbol of the hours of work put in behind the scenes at the club.

Dale admits he's seen Yackandandah's facilities take shape and change from when he first arrived.

"We only had the one club room with a folding door between them and there was only two showers on each side," he said.

"Don Thompson was our first captain coach here.

"We'd get the boys doing the last lap of the ground and we'd fly into the showers first and they'd say 'the mongrels are gone.'

"By then we were just about finished our shower."

Jenny first started the canteen under an umbrella on a Saturday before a more permanent structure was built.

"There used to be a big umbrella and she'd stand under there of an afternoon cooking and selling sausages," Dale said.

"That's just the way it was, it was good."

Dale will be the first to tell you he's not one to sit still for too long.

With the Tallangatta League currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic he's now missing the early morning starts on the club's gate alongside fellow life members Ross McKibbon and Kevin 'Jockstrap' Johnson.

This week has marked national volunteer week, and like most long-time residents of Yackandandah will tell you, there's not too many volunteer roles John and Jenny haven't had at one time or another within the community.

The Lions Club, caravan park and Yackatoon Retirement Village just to name a few.

But Dale wouldn't have it any other way.

He admits he's already eyeing off a return to Butson Park this season as soon as the league is up and running again.

"That's just what you do for the club," he said.

"I'll be back down this year."