Sport in Australia is supported by around 1.7 million volunteers who donate their time to sporting clubs and competitions around the country . These people fulfil roles as diverse as coaches, officials, team managers, administrators, committee members and more, and without their valuable support many of our budding young champions wouldn’t get to start their sporting journeys.

25 year old Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athlete Kim Crow began competitive rowing six years ago. Kim manages a busy schedule working as a lawyer (having graduated from her double bachelor degrees of media and communications and law), as well as a rigorous elite training schedule in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

But what many people don’t realise is that Kim also donates a significant amount of her time promoting her sport and giving back to her local community. This has involved volunteering for the Red Shield Appeal, public speaking and becoming an impressive role model at many local Melbourne schools and junior rowing camps.

‘I love being involved in a variety of projects because I know how lucky I have been throughout my life, and I’m glad that I can give something back, although I wish I could do more,’ Kim said.

The majority of Kim’s volunteering is focused around her beloved sport of rowing. Kim is an Olympic Education Ambassador, Problem Gambling Ambassador and is part of the Athlete Legal Aid Committee. She was part of the Melbourne University Sport Association Executive (2009-10) and has worked on various projects to support the Australian Olympic Committee and Melbourne Rowing Week.

Kim says that she grew up in a family and school that valued helping others.

‘I try to help whenever I am asked. I particularly love any volunteer work that involves inspiring young active women to achieve their dreams because I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the positive female role models such as my mum (Sue Crow, a pioneering female in sports administration, and currently General Manager of Community at Melbourne Heart Football Club) in my life.’

Kim’s rowing career has already consisted of many highs.

‘I think my greatest sporting achievement was representing Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and winning a silver medal in the double sculls at the World Championships in 2010.

Kim’s dream is to win an Olympic Games gold medal, but she has no plans of slowing down when it comes to her sporting and volunteering commitments.

‘Volunteers are fundamentally critical to sport in Australia. If it hadn't been for my parents raking the long jump pit at my little athletics competitions, and the coaches who gave up their time to coach me as a kid, I wouldn’t have been able to participate in half the sports I did growing up.

‘My current goal is to get more of my fellow AIS athletes to help me to partner with a local charity organisation (or create our own) and run fortnightly sporting sessions for disadvantaged groups throughout the Canberra community.’

The Australian Government has committed to supporting Australia’s volunteers in sport through the development of a national sport volunteer strategy. The strategy aims to provide a vision and priorities for sport volunteering in Australia in order to attract more volunteers in sport, and to assist in supporting volunteers in sport. To find out more about the Australian Government national sport volunteer strategy contact http://www.ausport.gov.au/site_tools/contact_us/general_enquiry

Greg Huppatz is one of the many dedicated volunteers who are the lifeblood of community sport. He balances the commitments of work and four sons to volunteer for Teachers West Rugby Union Football Club in Townsville. Officially Greg is club treasurer but unofficially he has worked in every role from gardener to team manager.

Greg has always been passionate about rugby and has volunteered either as a player, supporter or committee member since 1981. After moving to Townsville in 2004, he became involved with Teachers West Rugby Union Football Club and started working as club treasurer in 2008.

Although Greg’s official job is to ensure the club remains in a sound financial position, he often volunteers for other jobs — as with any community sport club, Teachers West often has roles that are hard to fill — and has lent a hand in ground layout, watering, fertilising and mowing the park; sourcing and erecting goal posts; assisted with fundraising, sponsorship and working with grant applications; as well as taking on the roles of team manager and clothing officer.

Despite working tirelessly for Teachers West for the past 6 years, Greg is humble about his contribution: ‘I feel that my participation within Teachers West Rugby in general is only small in comparison to others on the committee,’ said Greg. ‘The club has developed into a strong association and this is due to the support and dedication of a number of people.’

Greg’s family are also heavily involved in rugby and Teachers West: three of his four sons play for the club and the fourth is often found running around the grounds as a referee. Two of his sons also mentor younger players by coaching a side and Greg’s wife is actively involved in the organising of fundraising events for local clubs.

Greg is an excellent mentor not just for his sons: he is a great role model for the Townsville rugby community. He leads by example, showing the huge effects a bit of effort can have towards the success of a club. Without the support and commitment of people like Greg, sporting clubs in Australia would struggle to survive.

Quick Questions

Why did you start volunteering?

I started volunteering in order to be more closely involved in the sport that my children played. Additionally, I played Rugby Union when I was younger and felt that Rugby had given me a lot of enjoyment over many years and the thought of giving something back was appealing.

Why do you continue?

I continue my involvement with the Teachers West Rugby Union Club because of the close friendships and associations that I have made with many people within the club. My children are still playing so being involved with them and their sport gives our family more time together.

Most rewarding moment

Whilst there have been many rewarding moments, seeing Teachers West develop a ‘home’ ground has been a highlight. Seeing the work commence on that project and knowing what it will mean to the club in general was certainly a good feeling.

What do you get out of it?

Satisfaction, knowing that the club is in a sound position financially with stable club numbers in both junior and senior competitions.

To say Jackie Bradshaw is dedicated to helping others enjoy sport is an understatement: Jackie has volunteered on and off the court at Sydney’s Hunters Hill Tennis Club where she has been a member for over 45 years and now she devotes much of her time to using tennis to assist her nephew’s physical rehabilitation.

Jackie first joined Hunters Hill Tennis Club in 1964 as a player. Years later she became more involved in the operation of the club, serving as a member on the organisational committee for 18 years, 11 years of which were on the social committee and 7 years as club secretary.

During her time at Hunters Hill, Jackie volunteered for many tasks, including looking after old and new memberships, drafting the club’s monthly newsletter, helping out with social events and generally offering assistance wherever help was needed.

Jackie has dedicated much of her time to one club because, in her words, ‘we have a unique club; I have made and treasure many friendships from my involvement. I have seen the club go through various cycles and I felt I could contribute by putting  my energy into helping to make sure the club is run smoothly’.

Last year, after nearly half a century of involvement with Hunters Hill, Jackie resigned as club secretary to devote more time to assisting with and fundraising for her nephew James’s physical rehabilitation.  James has quadriplegia as the result of a freak and tragic accident in 2008, when he fainted and fell backwards from a stool breaking his neck.   He is undergoing an intense rehabilitation program. As James can achieve some movement with his right arm, Jackie makes tennis part of his routine at least once a week by strapping a racquet into his hand and heading to a friend’s tennis court.

‘As an able-bodied tennis player this certainly puts things in perspective,’ said Jackie. ‘James was an extremely active 29 year old who had his life changed in a split second; he is not only an inspiration to me and all the family but to anyone who crosses his path.’

Jackie’s remarkable dedication to helping people enjoy her sport is a testament to the strength of Australia’s volunteering culture, which is so crucial for the success of community sport.

Quick questions

Why did you start volunteering?

My parents did a huge amount of community voluntary work, so I was brought up in a household where this was normal.  My father helped start the first sailing club in Woolwich with some of his friends and my mother started the Brownies.  The first voluntary work I did was at age 13 helping my grandmother who opened a canteen in what is now called the Ryde Rehabilitation Centre. 

Why do you continue?

The rewards of giving outweigh those of taking and it is nice to work with likeminded givers. 

Most rewarding moment?

Without doubt, watching my nephew James take his first steps after his catastrophic accident.  He was told he would never walk again but his commitment, that of his family, professionals and volunteers in his circle of friends have enabled him to take these first steps and continue to improve.

What do you get out of it?

It is extremely rewarding when you see your hard work result in a really positive and successful outcome.   When you volunteer you become acquainted with people from different walks of life, who have similar goals and who you would probably not otherwise encounter.

Wally and Carole O’Hara are two extraordinary volunteers responsible for transforming community gymnastics in Armidale, New South Wales.

Teaching gymnastics wasn’t always Wally and Carole’s passion. The two Sydney school teachers followed their children into the sport after moving to Inverell, in northern New South Wales, and taking their daughters along to recreational gymnastics classes at the local youth club.

It wasn’t long before the club’s head coach found out that Wally and Carole were teachers and invited them to train to become qualified coaches. Shortly afterwards the head coach left Inverell and so the O’Haras took over. The couple knew they couldn’t run the club on their own so they formed a cooperative coaching group with other parents and the club’s popularity increased dramatically.

Wally and Carole’s experience in Inverell transformed their love of teaching into a passion for helping children to become top gymnasts. This passion increased throughout their 1991 transfer to teach at Armidale City Public School and the couple decided to establish their own afterschool gymnastics club.

In its early days, Armidale City Gymnastics Club only had 25 children enrolled, but this number soon grew to over 120: far too many for the school’s small auditorium. Wally and Carole searched for a new site and eventually made an arrangement with Armidale High School to use their gym without charge. The club’s popularity continued to grow in the new location, so much so that demand began to exceed even the capacity of the high school gym and, in 2009, the O’Haras opened a brand new facility.

When asked what motivates their work, Wally says above all it’s about being able to guide and inspire children: ‘You can celebrate every accomplishment, pick them up after failure and teach them how they can learn from their mistakes and be better next time, so they learn many life skills in gym.’

Wally and Carole’s club is now approaching 18 years of operation and is currently fully funded by participant fees and grants. Yet, as the O’Haras say, the club couldn’t function without the dedicated volunteers in the local community. Fortunately, given how infectious Wally and Carole’s passion is, it’s unlikely the couple will ever be short of keen volunteers to follow their exceptional lead.

Quick questions

Why did you start volunteering?

Our whole family loved gymnastics and with our kids involved we wanted to lend a hand. It beats sitting there watching!

Why do you continue?

My wife and I ask ourselves this question daily. Basically we do it for the kids. We enjoy seeing them have fun and they reward us by remembering to visit us occasionally.

Most rewarding moment?

Opening the new gym facility, that showed that all our hard work had paid off.

What do you get out of it?

We get a lot of appreciation from the many parents and kids involved in the club. As members of the Armidale Community we are also rewarded by the community with Australia Day awards and other Volunteer awards.

Northbridge Sailing Club is lucky to have Hugh Tait as its commodore. The 28-year-old leader is a great mentor for young sailors as well the perfect role model for the club’s all-volunteer staff.

Prior to being appointed as commodore in 2008, Hugh had been sailing with the north Sydney club since 1992 and, whether a sailor or a leader, he has always demonstrated what volunteering is all about.

Hugh has been particularly impressive in increasing membership to his club. Through his leadership, Northbridge Sailing Club’s junior program has increased from a diminutive ten boats to an astounding 40, and Hugh has increased the number of teenage members from just a handful to nearly 30. He has also set up a sailing club for students at the Sydney University of Technology to increase participation.

When not leading Northbridge Sailing Club, Hugh keeps himself busy working as a full-time engineer and completing postgraduate studies. Any remaining time he has is spent at various regattas encouraging and mentoring young sailors, and in imparting his knowledge wherever he can.

Club Secretary Sue McCall describes Hugh as an incredibly motivated, enthusiastic and inspirational leader: ‘No one could ever question his commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to Northbridge Sailing Club, to the members and to the greater sailing community’.
With volunteers of such dedication and commitment as Hugh Tait at their helm, community sport clubs like Northbridge Sailing Club will continue to grow and thrive.

Quick questions

Why did you start volunteering?

It was through the volunteer culture of Northbridge Sailing Club’s learn to sail program that I started as an Assistant Instructor at the age of 16.

Why do you continue?

I have a passion for the sport of sailing and in particular Northbridge Sailing Club. I feel I can add value to the organisations that I am part of and enjoy seeing the club benefit from the effort I put in. I also get to meet and work with a lot of interesting people in a passionate environment. 

Most rewarding moment

When I see members of the club satisfied and really enjoying themselves as a result of all the volunteers hard work.

What do you get out of it?

Satisfaction that the work I do benefits other members and the Club.

Marian Waldron is an exceptional volunteer who has inspired three generations of Victorian netballers — including her own daughters and granddaughters.

Earlier this year Marian celebrated her third decade of volunteering with Ballarat’s Eureka Netball Club. Since joining the club as a player in the 1980s she has performed just about every role available, including coach, umpire and even club president. Marian has run fundraising events, helped organise merchandise and assisted dozens of juniors in growing and developing into impressive senior players.

Marian is now in her late sixties but doesn’t have any plans of retiring soon. She is a qualified C badged umpire and when she’s not running up and down the netball court she is encouraging future umpires.

Club members couldn’t imagine Eureka without Marian’s enthusiastic presence.

‘Marian has been around our club for longer than anyone can remember,’ said netballer Wilma Oomen. ‘Her unofficial role as friend and mentor make her a much loved member and club volunteer.’

Marian’s dedication is inspiring to everyone she encounters. Eureka Netball Club is thriving — as is community sport in Ballarat — thanks to her enduring passion for helping others enjoy sport.

Quick Questions

Why did you start volunteering?

I played netball as a girl and it became a natural progression to then start umpiring, coaching and then helping out in administration. I guess the culture of volunteering started for me within my family.  My daughter and now my granddaughters continue the volunteering tradition as they too are players, umpires, coaches and administrators.

Why do you continue?

I wouldn’t be involved unless I enjoyed it.   I love the sport and I have had and continue to have some great and rewarding times.

Most rewarding moment

I encourage the girls to be as good as they can be.  I was thrilled when former club player Jo Curran got into the Melbourne Phoenix.  I tell the girls they can all achieve their goals if they work at it.

What do you get out of it?

The best part of being involved with netball is the friendships.  I have met some fantastic people over the years and have some lifelong friends as a result of it.