The AFL Players’ Association tonight announced that Andrea Slattery, mother of Essendon’s Henry Slattery is the winner of the fourth annual AFLPA / Kangaroos Network of Women (KNOW) Mother of the Year award.

Nominated by son Henry, Andrea was judged Mother of the Year by a panel consisting of Karen Lyon from The Age, Jo Curkpatrick from the Kangaroos Network of Women, National Ovarian Cancer Network CEO Karen Livingstone and AFLPA Chief Executive Officer Brendon Gale.

In his nomination, Henry Slattery, who has so far played 39 games for Essendon after being recruited at #46 in the 2004 National Draft and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, paid tribute to his mum Andrea’s long term contribution towards his and indeed his entire families’ holistic development, writing;

“The eldest Slattery son is studying Medicine as a post graduate student after completing a physiotherapy degree as well as playing for the Redbacks SA cricket side second XI.”

“The second eldest son is also studying medicine as a post graduate student after completing a PhD in Biomedical Science and also plays senior football in the Queensland Football League with Labrador.”

“The third eldest son has just entered the Bar as a lawyer and works for law firm DMA Phillips Fox in Melbourne – he also travels back to Adelaide to play for Central Districts in the SANFL.”

The Slattery family achievements don’t end there with Andrea Slattery having started her own national business – and is CEO of the Self Managed Super Funds Professionals’ Association of Australia whilst Henry’s father Paul is also a barrister and was the last Australian person to be admitted as a Queens Council.

Despite Andrea’s busy business she has seen almost all of Henry’s 39 games for Essendon.

A percentage of money raised from the event was donated to OvCa – the National Ovarian Cancer Network.