Fiona O'Keefe: OVA's first woman president reveals her recipe for a fulfilling life

Seven months after marrying OVA's Mitchell O'Keefe, the mother of two has become the club's first woman president.

O'Keefe is one of the lucky ones. Her life revolves around her great loves: family, teaching and football.

This enviable existence has occurred not by chance but by design. While some people perpetually flail, forever destined to be subject to life's harsh whim, the 27-year-old is very much the master of her own destiny.

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Her historic appointment at OVA is the latest example of that, and it comes as she pursues a primary teaching degree, works full-time as a school-learning support officer (teacher's aide) and raises two children, Nicholas, 6, and Harvey, 2.

"I've got a loving husband, two beautiful children and a job and a sport that I love. So, I'm pretty happy," she said.

It was through OVA that O'Keefe met her husband, whom she has replaced as president and whom she worked with in recent years as a member of the club's committee.

Next season she will resume playing for Mushies after a three-year break following the birth of Harvey.

She views her appointment as Mushies president as an opportunity to make a profound difference to women's football at the club and in Tamworth generally.

"Our women's team are fantastic, and they're really passionate about the game," said O'Keefe, who was happiest when she had her children and when she got married.

She added: "Mitchell's done a really good job the last couple of years of trying to do more for the women's team [at OVA]. So I'm looking forward to just following up on that, really.

"I think it will be good having that female presence within the committee a little bit more."

It was Mitchell who suggested is wife replace him as president.

"And I was all for it," she said, adding that she is "very lucky to have the people behind me that I do, especially our new executive committee. I've got a lot of support".

O'Keefe's brother, Tim Diebold, is OVA treasurer. Another brother, Jack, was a prominent Mushies player, while she has played with her elder sister Aimee at the club.

O'Keefe's desire to become a teacher dated back to her childhood. "I just always loved kids, and I always loved school."

She has a degree in early childhood education, and has worked at a Tamworth daycare centre

"I'm very passionate about kids and education and, more specifically, Indigenous education. I just want to make a difference, I guess, and be the reason that children turn their lives around."

The Leader: What would you like to leave your children?

O'Keefe: "Probably kind, generous personalities."

Just like their mum.

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