Michael Bailey loves volunteering and encourages others to follow in his footsteps. Photo: Supplied.
A Wagga football club volunteer has been recognised for his dedication after cooking more than 80,000 sausages and 25,000 steaks for three generations of Mangoplah Cookardinia United Eastlakes FNC players over 21 years.
Michael Bailey, 66, has been named one of Australia’s local BBQ legends by Bunnings Warehouse as part of its nationwide Legend of the Tongs search, which recognises the volunteers who keep grassroots footy clubs running, one snag at a time.
Region asked Mr Bailey for the secret to cooking the perfect sausage.
“You need to know your barbecue and the heat of it, so you’re not burning the outside and that the inside isn’t raw. You have to be methodical,” he said.
“It’s normal for a player to eat at least three sausages and one steak at the one time — so you’re cooking hundreds in the one session.
“I’ve fed two generations of seniors and now I’ve just started feeding their sons, who are doing Auskick.”
Mr Bailey grew up in Narrandera and has worked for NSW Health in a senior administrative role for 42 years.
He started volunteering at Mangoplah when his son Cameron began playing with the club, but continued even after his son left for university and coached the Wollongong Bulldogs.
Now, Mr Bailey is encouraging others to follow in his footsteps and become involved in volunteering.
“Being a volunteer isn’t a curse,” he said. ”It’s not in the psyche of a lot of people these days, but there’s a lot more to be gained by meeting people and helping out than staying at home and watching TV complaining there’s nothing to do.
“You actually get a lot out of it yourself. I had a high-pressure job in NSW Health, but I found cooking steaks and sausages for the footy players to be a great stress relief at the end of a busy week.”
As part of the prize, Mangoplah Cookardinia United Eastlakes FNC will receive a barbecue prize pack valued at more than $585, including a Jumbuck six-burner BBQ and a Bunnings pop-up marquee.
Mr Bailey is also now in the running to win a trip for two to the Toyota AFL grand final and be crowned the overall Legend of the Golden Tongs, with the winning club to receive $25,000 in Bunnings products and materials.
The competition forms part of Bunnings’ 12th year in partnership with the AFL and runs across 18 weeks of the 2026 AFL season, recognising grassroots volunteers across both the AFL and AFLW communities.
Bunnings Wagga Wagga complex manager Jason Trifitt said the Legend of the Tongs initiative was about celebrating the people who made local footy possible.
“From firing up the barbecue before sunrise to feeding hundreds on game day, volunteers like Bails are the heart and soul of community sport,” Jason said.
“For more than 20 years, Bails has been a constant presence at Mangoplah Cookardinia United Eastlakes, turning up week after week to cook, prepare and serve for players, families and supporters. His dedication has made him a much-loved figure around the club and a worthy Legend of the Tongs.”
