Born on January 18, 1973, I’m the proud son of Anna, a migrant from Northern Italy, and Jim Koutoufides, a Greek-Cypriot refugee from Egypt. I was raised in Lalor, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne near Thomastown, where I spent my formative years.
My early experiences shaped who I am today and continue to inspire my commitment to our community.
Growing up in Thomastown, I began my journey in football with the Lalor Football Club juniors and attended Lalor Secondary College. But my passion for sports extended beyond football.
From grade six, I was an outstanding track and field athlete, excelling in high jump, 110m hurdles, and discus. In 1984, I won gold in high jump at the Australian All Schools Championships and harbored aspirations of competing in the Olympics.
Our campaign has come a long way, but there is still a lot of road road ahead donation now and help us win!