By Jorja Brinums
For nearly a decade, Belinda ‘Bee’ Perry has been one of the steady, smiling forces behind Family of League.
In July, she’ll celebrate ten years with the Foundation — ten years of answering the phone with warmth, solving problems with determination, planning events to raise money for those in the rugby league community doing it tough, and supporting volunteers and committees with genuine care.
Belinda started out part-time in accounts and is now Family of League’s administration officer in the Queensland office, doing a bit of everything. No task is too small or too big for Belinda; she just rolls up her sleeves and gets things done.
“Being in a small team, you’ve really got to wear lots of hats,” she said with a laugh.
Those who work alongside Belinda know she doesn’t just wear those hats — she masters them.
When it comes to the small team at Family of League, this International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, it is important to note four of the seven full-time staffers are passionate and capable women – there’s Belinda, national wellbeing manager Roxanne Moates, national wellbeing lead Chloe Minehan and membership and administration support Grace Vella.
And there’s two women on the Board – chair Helen Wood Grant and Katrina Fanning.
Roxanne said Belinda was truly one in a million.
“If you asked me to describe Belinda, I would say she is a constant – reliable, capable, dependable, warm, and funny,” Roxanne said.
“Some of those words might seem ordinary at first glance, but when you truly need someone, there is nothing more extraordinary than knowing there is Belinda ready to step in and help.
“She brings calm to chaos, steadiness to uncertainty, and does it all with quiet humour and heart.”
Family of League Queensland state manager Andrew Blucher said Belinda had been “a rock for Men of League and Family of League for nearly 10 years”.
“One hundred per cent reliable, thorough, detailed, organised… she makes stuff happen,” Andrew said.
“She’s built up great relationships with people inside and outside the organisation, has a terrific sense of humour to make stuff fun when needed and an ideal point of contact for our members, sponsors and committee volunteers… or just anyone with a question – she’ll know the answer.”
Belinda said what she loved about Family of League, and what kept her coming back day after day, year after year, wasn’t the tasks she did as part of her job, but the people.
“I love my volunteer committee people,” she said.
“I love talking to them on the phone, having a good laugh, helping them with their events.
“And when you hear the stories about how we’re helping people in the community… that’s pretty special.”
Among her many proud moments, she said, was organising an event attended by more than 970 people – the kind of huge undertaking that would intimidate even a seasoned events team.
But Belinda simply remembers the feeling at the end – “wow — we organised this”, the positive feedback and the money raised to help those in need.
Belinda also loves that her time at Family of League made her cross paths and become close to the late, great Darryl Van de Velde. A man still very much missed.
“His passion for the game, the respect he had in the community — if we ever got stuck with something, you’d just ask Darryl, and two minutes later it was sorted,” she recalled.
What struck her most was that the caring, humble man people spoke about at his funeral was exactly the same person she worked with every day; someone who valued people, valued relationships and respected women in rugby league.
As a woman in the rugby league community, Belinda sees firsthand the essential role women play in the sport.
“We’re the organisers, we’re the doers,” she said.
In community rugby league, particularly in Queensland, she sees women driving so much of the work that keeps the game alive and thriving; and she’s a strong believer in the future of women’s rugby league.
“The skill is impressive… they’re going to be here for a long time — a great asset to the game,” Belinda said.
And when it comes to playing her part into the future, Belinda said Family of League’s contribution to the rugby league community was something she was proud of and committed to.
“You’ve only got to listen to the stories of who we help… we’re a great benefit, we just need more recognition,” she said humbly.
Outside of work, Belinda’s world revolves around her two grandchildren — “two boys, nearly four and nearly two, who keep me busy” — as well as catching up with friends, exercising, and reading.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women like Belinda — women who lead wholeheartedly and strengthen communities simply by showing up, day after day, with compassion and commitment.
Belinda doesn’t seek the spotlight. But at Family of League, she is one of the people who makes sure the lights stay on — for families, volunteers and everyone who needs support.
And that is worth celebrating this International Women’s Day, and every day.
