VOLUNTEERS are the lifeblood of any sport.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And for Port Macquarie Junior Touch Football Association treasurer Melinda Cotter, the long hours put in to ensure the sport locally is run smoothly was recognised on Saturday.
Cotter, along with Brent and Sonya Steep were awarded the prestigious Rod Wise Medal at the NSW Touch Football awards night at Bankstown Sports Club.
They’re the people who put the witches hats out to mark the try line.
They’re the people who organise referees for games.
They’re the people who make sure the fridges are stocked before every competition – whether that’s the social competitions during the week or the junior state cup every year.
Cotter said receiving the award was amazing.
“There’s thousands of volunteers throughout Touch NSW,” she said.
“For me to get selected it’s not just about me, it’s about Brent and Sonya Steep as well because the three of us have grown this competition 400 per cent in four years.
“We run the junior state cup with the catering and that’s one of the major reasons this award came to us because they know the hours and the effort we put into make state cup successful for the town.”
She said it was a thanks for the effort that goes in behind the scenes and the early hours sending emails to ensure teams are full.
But she said there was one thing she wanted players to do and it involved the use of two simple words.
“I used to be a player 25 years and 40 kilos ago just like them,” she said.
“I used to rock up to a tournament and just play. You wouldn’t think about who put the hats out, who stocked the fridges or who organised the referees.
“So next time you see a committee person or someone putting a hat out or a referee just thank them.”
Touch football has 672,000 members and thousands of volunteers who run all the different affiliate competitions across NSW.
“It’s a major sport and for us to win this award is amazing,” Cotter said.