Departure Lounge with Paul West - The Mark West Foundation

The Mark West Foundation was established in October 2014 to help overcome the growing problem of disadvantaged kids missing out on opportunities due to their families financial situation, whilst remembering the man the foundation is named after.

Mark was a very talented footballer who had a highly distinguished junior career. He won several best and fairest awards, represented Geelong in U/15’s, U/16’s and then the Geelong Falcons.

On ANZAC Day in 1998 whilst playing in his senior team against St Mary’s, Mark passed away as the result of a tragic on field accident. He was 19 years old.

Whilst trying to establish his senior career, Mark also started coaching one of the junior football sides as a 17 year old. Mark recognised that he needed to be more involved in his Club than just playing. He loved kids and believed he had something to offer them so he took up coaching the U/11’s and continued this for nearly 3 years. 

Junior coaching was a massive passion of Mark’s as he got an enormous amount of pleasure out of seeing kids enjoy and improve themselves. Mark was very strong about instilling the right values in the kids he coached. Things like respect, teamwork, discipline and hard work were always the message he tried to instil in the players.

Therefore, the Foundation raises funds via grant funding, corporate and private donations as well as fundraisers. These funds will then be used to provide as many scholarships as possible to children who qualify for assistance.

Brother and co-chairperson Paul West checked into the Departure Lounge to talk about Mark's legacy and what we can do in 2019 to support Geelong kids.