Craig Foster is one of this region’s favourite sons and I have never known anyone more passionate, nor more committed when he sets his mind to doing something.

Fozz has graduated with a Law Degree and at my insistence, he has agreed to allow me to offer a few words to herald this achievement and to also to use some of his story to hopefully inspire others to believe that life is what you make of it.

Craig Foster's parents Kevin and Deanne were at their son's Bachelor of Law graduation ceremony in Sydney.

Although the completion of a Law Degree is not unique, nor even academic results adorned by High Distinctions, the completion of a challenging degree in about half the normal time of most students and against the backdrop of a complex and tenuous Human Rights mission, makes this a special accolade. The classroom was not Craig’s friend when he was at school, mainly because football has substantially always been his destiny and this drive is now well known to all including Thailand, Bahrain and FIFA!

With a sharp wit and larrikin streak, Fozz concedes that he was far from a model student back at Kadina High in the eighties and former teachers like Tony Roder (himself a fine footballer), well remember a headstrong young man with a clear direction in life. Signs of things to come.

Craig’s professional career saw him play with club teams both overseas and in Australia, as well as earning 29 caps for the Socceroos including as National Captain. Great memories from what now seems an all too fleeting period in his life and post playing days, after which opportunities arose to work in the media and he was fortunate to have been mentored by two icons of our game in Johnny Warren and Les Murray.

Craig Foster is congratulated by David Zdrilic, Stan Lazaridis and Tony Popovic after scoring for Australia against the Czech Republic in 2000.

Despite have always been a committed student of football, Craig shares a glimpse of his otherwise private emotion.

“Football provided not just an international career and the profile that comes with great responsibility to give back, but an entree into diversity and multiculturalism and SBS was the perfect institution to further understand the importance of shared humanity,”

Craig said.

Craig’s role in the print and broadcast media enabled him to “live and breathe” the game and although completing a Masters in International Sport Management, Postgraduate Degree and the highest coaching qualifications in that time, the Professional coaching license, the law degree that had twice eluded him had to be conquered. Having started as a young player, the time commitments to achieve on the football field precluded his ultimate goal off of it, until now, in his 50th year, 30 years after he began.

Fozz lives in a very public world through his profile and roles in football and as an advocate for a raft of causes that extend globally such as homelessness, domestic violence, indigenous rights and refugee and asylum seeker treatment.

Fozz can be brutally direct and the football community has come to expect an honesty and independence that has progressed a broad range of issues in the domestic game. He says this comes in part from a Lismore upbringing where the truth is spoken and no distance exists between people. Whether of office, or the street, all are the same to him, a point made in his recent book, ‘Fighting for Hakeem.’

"One of the reasons we succeeded," he says, "is precisely because we treated Bahrain and Thai royalty as no different, no more worthy than Hakeem. FIFA officials are nothing more than the player they’re bound to protect. This is the Australian way."

Perhaps this the moment that his player advocacy as a former Chairman of Professional Footballers Australia, broadcast acumen and strength of purpose collided as a beacon for Human Rights, justice and fairness for all. I recommend this book to ignite reflection and inspiration of how lucky we are and how a collective purpose will make a difference.

Craig Foster and Hakeem al-Araibi at a book signing of 'Fighting for Hakeem'.

Whether the cause is football, community, or lobbying for change, Craig Foster exemplifies values that make him a true champion of our region and we congratulate him for taking Lismore to the world.

Recently, he spoke on the power of sport at the United Nations and, despite this lofty honor that few Lismorians will have been granted, he published a heartfelt letter of apology for not joining his 1981 teammates in the Lismore Workers Masters Games. That’s Craig.

With customary, well considered commentary, he told me that “learning is lifelong and it’s important for us all to keep growing and contributing to society in different ways”.

And dare I ask “what is the next project?”

“Football is always a dear love, as is SBS. Next is to acquire languages and a Masters of Human Rights Law,” is the reply.

They say that life is the ultimate teacher and I simply say, “Craig, you will always be a worthy student, but much more, you are a leader and we thank you for that.”

ARTICLE BY STEVE MACKNEY, FOOTBALL FAR NORTH COAST GENERAL MANAGER