On Sunday May 3rd, the Sharks Division One side will compete for the Jo Cox Cup.
Jo ‘Coxy’ Cox
Joanne ‘Coxy’ Cox played with Surrey Park and East Burwood (now ‘Eastern Devils’), breaking the 50 game barrier and finished her playing days on 51 games. Her last game was against St. Kilda on 31 May 2009 after breaking her arm at Peanut Farm Reserve. Jo was a ‘fierce’ competitor, a vital contributor in the backline.
A true club person, Jo was a member of the Devils committee and was involved in the Devils first premiership in the Reserves in 2008. Jo decided that her football career would not end here and took on the challenge of Umpiring.
She began with being a boundary and goal umpire for VWFL, Youth Girls and the VAFA. She then moved to field umpiring.
Jo made a name for herself as an honest, smart and very fair umpire. In a major thrill for her, she was named as a member of the 2010 Umpiring Academy throughout the Youth Girls National Championships in Melbourne.
During her fight with Cancer, she showed great strength, courage and determination. Sadly, on 4 July 2011 Jo lost her battle with cancer.
Gone too soon but never forgotten.
The Eastern Devils will be fundraising on the day with proceeds from the BBQ, raffle and auction items going to a cancer charity.