The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) recently held a competition to find the best examples of recognising and rewarding volunteers in Australian sporting organisations. The winners - Jo-anne Moore (South West Cycle Club), Pat Booker (Central Highlands Rugby Football Referees Association) and Karen Gill (Gladstone Junior AFL Mudcrabs) - received 2XU compression prize packs for their clubs.

Volunteers are an important and often under-appreciated part of community sport in Australia. Research conducted by Frontier Economics shows that sport makes up the largest field of volunteering in Australia, accounting for 33 per cent of all volunteers and an estimated value of $3.9 billion to the sector.

Given the heavy reliance on volunteers in sport it is essential for clubs to maintain their volunteers and keep them happy. An important way to encourage volunteers to remain with a club is to give them adequate recognition through a rewards program.

'In order to keep your volunteers happy and motivated it is essential that the recognition is consistent and ongoing,' says first prize winner, Jo-anne Moore of South West Cycle Club. 'Our club has developed a volunteer reward points system with points awarded for various levels of volunteering.

'Every three months volunteers can then redeem these points for coffee vouchers, club clothing or at the local bike shop.'

The South West Cycle Club was formed in Bunbury in 1988 and has 189 members, making it the largest Cycling WA club in Western Australia. The club is run purely by volunteers and their duties vary from hosting rides to marshalling at race events,

'Our club would not have reached the milestone of 189 members without the help of all of our volunteers. They are certainly the club's best asset and we are proud to reward and recognise them at every opportunity,' notes Moore.

Recognising volunteers competition winners

1 Jo-anne Moore - South West Cycle Club

2 Pat Booker - Central Highlands Rugby Football Referees Association

This organisation offers numerous rewards including gym memberships to their senior referees as an incentive to stay fit throughout the year. They also conduct an end-of-season celebration for referees and their families, providing babysitters to supervise children while their parents celebrate the year that was. During the celebration, trophies and gift vouchers are presented to the partners of members for their support, and the organisation also supplies club shirts and jackets.

3 Karen Gill - Gladstone Junior AFL Mudcrabs

This organisation conducts end-of-season presentation days which include a meal and fun activities such as rock climbing and jumping castles. Volunteers also receive appreciation polo shirts, thank-you notes and a special gift at the end of the year.