2008 Blues Awards Winners
New South Wales Touch Associationwould like to congraulate the following Volunteer Recognition Award winners;
Mark Mahoney (Parramatta TA & Sydney Scorpions TA)
This person who has been instrumental in the reinvigoration of juniors within his region. He also assisted in head hunting a number of persons to assist in the running of the region, all of whom have assisted in taking the region forward. Some five (5) years ago he instigated a meeting with the view to turn the region around. He was a keen player in enticing the current NSWTA sponsor, KOMBAT to become involved with touch in Sydney. He has also coached the juniors at both Regional and affiliate level for the past 3-4 years which is filtering through to the senior ranks.
Deanne & Michael Rushworth (Blacktown TA)
These two recipients formed their association in the 2003/04 summer season, establishing both a senior and junior competition. They have been both President and Secretary since its inception. They have built this competition from nothing to its peak of 40 senior teams and 56 junior teams in the 2006/07 summer season. Their success has been built on the back of never shying away from challenges. Their affiliate has managed to provide a highly efficient competition for its community. Now with the AFL endeavoring to establish a western Sydney team, the challenges will grow, but never to the detriment of the resolve of our recipients.
Dave Nolan (Parramatta TA & Sydney Scorpions TA)
Instrumental in the reinvigoration of a region’s junior program through his innovative ideas, he has coached juniors at affiliate level and regional level as well as taking on coaching duties at the NTL. He is the type of person that never fails to be involved with junior sides and always puts up his hand to assists with selections of junior regional teams whilst coaching at the Junior State Cup.
Lionel & Kathy Alexander (Murwillumbah TA)
A pairing that have administered their affiliate since joining the ranks of the NSWTA in 1992. This husband and wife team has been the stability of this stronghold of NSWTA that has constantly resisted overtures from South Queensland Sharks region too cross borders. They have gone about their work as unsung heroes putting witches hats out, marking fields, organizing rep teams, junior teams, doing the draws and point scores and all those mundane tasks that nobody else wants to do. Individually they have held roles of tournament director of the northern rivers from 1992 to 1998, and has been area manager for that area of the region as well as representing their affiliate at state cups and northern rivers events as well as representing the region as a player. In 1996 to help further their affiliate both attained their selector’s credentials.
Mark Brisby (Manly Warringah TA & Sydney Scorpions TA)
Mark was a previous Australian and NSW representative player, who now that his playing days have ceased, is giving back to the sport through Junior Development, both at the park and with the region. Currently he heads up a very successful junior regional program as the Directors of Juniors, a position he has held for last 4 years. He also coaches juniors, puts his hand up to manage when needed and also has undertaken the volunteer role of Tour Manager to the NTL and National Youth events.
Merv Collins (Penrith TA)
After retiring as a level 5 state graded referee who represented his affiliate for many years, this gentleman decided it was time to give back, even after being out of the game for a while. Previously he had represented at the elite levels of touch and is considered one of his affiliates all time greats in the referee rank. In the days when referee associations existed in isolation from their affiliate association, he held the positions of secretary and coaching coordinator of the affiliate referee association for many years. In the period 2004-2007 he decided that all his experience could still be utilized at park level and he took on the role director of referees during which time he was responsible for training and coaching referees who achieved graded status as a result of his tireless commitment to their development.
Phil Rainger (Narrabri TA & Northern Eagles TA)
Phil has contributed to our sport since 1988 in the areas of Warialda, Moree and Narrabri at affiliate level as referees director, Referee, President, Committee person and player. He has qualified as a selector, coach, referee and a referee course presenter/coach. He was lured away from the selectors to the referee arm back in 2004 and since then he has been committed to his affiliate, Region and NSWTA as a referee and his region as a referee coaching panel member. He has attended every country champs since 2003, every state cup since 2006 and junior state cups since 2007. He has officiated at countless CHS, all schools and gala days organized by NSWTA. While attending these tournaments and coaching referees he has driven hundreds of kilometers and has never complained. He gained his level three badge at 2007 country champs and continues to strive for further upgrades. He is one of our most loyal servants to the sport, and will be for many years to come.
Sofie Casson (Scone TA)
Not often do you get to recognize someone so young with a volunteer recognition award. For today’s youth where it seemingly it is all about the quick buck, this young lady freely gives her time and energy to her affiliate- She referees the junior and senior games as well as undertaking the role of coaching the affiliates first junior state cup team of 10 year old boys. She also helped out at the local council to run school holiday sports day, coaching the touch football part of the program and refereeing the game that was played. For such a youngster this recipient is a fantastic role model to our junior players and is incredibly generous with her time. When asked, without hesitation she also agreed to help pick an under 10’s girls team next season who hopefully will go to the nelson bay carnival and then onto the junior state cup. All this for a young lady of 16 years of age
Lyn Eason (Forster Tuncurry TA & Northern Eagles TA)
Lyn got her first taste of committee life in 1995/96. The very next year was elected president and has held this position for the past 13 years. Her tireless work saw her gain her affiliate’s life member in 2003. During her time she has often juggled more than just the affiliate presidency role, taking on other portfolios within the affiliate and is fundamental in the running of the association, running the canteen on the mixed and men’s night, doing the timekeeping, putting the witch’s hats out, doing all the competition draws, and helping in the line marking of the touch fields. She also referees when the duty teams fail to turn up and helps referees the semi final series. She is also heavily involved in the running of the junior competition and coordination of the representative teams. She has been putting in at the Regional level as well as the junior coordinator for the past 4 years and has directly helped organize the teams for the 14/16 regionals over the past 2 years. This has all been achieved on a volunteer basis receiving no payments of moneys.
Vivian Whatman (Nowra Shoalhaven TA)
A foundation player of the Association way back in 1978, a life member since 1992, our recipient has been a representative player and committee member for many years, at both Association and Regional level. She is an accredited Coach, and has utilized these skills for both Association and Regional teams for many years as well as managed. And if that hasn’t kept her busy she is also accredited Selector, having selected for the association, regional and state.
Vivian is a very reliable & important member of the Nowra Shoalhaven TA. She is always available to help and even took on the task of mowing field lines for the association to help out, something she has now done for many years. And not to be outdone our recipient has been involved with Touch in the Shoalhaven for 31yrs & still participates in the local competition in division 1!
Megan Harapa (NSWTA Referees)
Many Volunteers are those people behind the scenes, those who make everything click like clockwork, the person you never really see, or if you do see them you often wonder “I see them here all the time, I wonder what they do?” Our next recipient is just one such person, the volunteer whose work at NSW events often means she sees very little touch. But without her efforts none of us would, as the referees would not be at the fields. Her work in the referees tent ensure all the referees turn up to the allocated games, mothering them, consoling them and keeping them organised is a feat in itself that not only takes place during the weekend, but indeed both prior to and post event.
Rosemary Morgan (Nowra Shoalhaven TA)
Rosemary is a long time lover of the sport and has been actively involved with the Nowra Shoalhaven TA since 1988, a total of 21yrs to date. She has represented her state on no fewer 5 occasions spanning over 20 years and during the same period she has held various positions on the Nowra Shoalhaven TA committee. Not only is she active at the senior levels of the local association, but she has also been instrumental in developing the Junior Competitions in recent years. In 1998 she become an accredited referee and quickly progressed to a level 2 the very next year and continues refereeing.
Jenny Benson (NSWTA Tournaments)
A friendly face, a smile, a pleasant personality, its that first impression that can make all the difference at the coal face of NSW events as the first point of call for many participants and our final recipient, exemplifies not only these traits, but indeed those of what a volunteer is. No task is too menial, or to tough for her to take on with professionalism, a smile and a sense of humour, she will assist at any NSWTA event, puts her hands up to manager the often hard to handle Women’s teams, pushes the sport at junior levels through the school system, and often keeps Kylie Hearne sane, whilst always asking is anything more I can do. Normally she will just go and do it before we need even ask.
