A hard-working, small town club from regional NSW, the founding father of the oldest knockout tournament for Indigenous players and an advocate for a wheelchair competition that caters for all physical disabilities are among the major winners announced today in the annual NSWRL Community Awards that acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by more than 26,000 volunteers across the state.
The Narromine Jets (Community Club of the Year), Victor Wright (Indigenous Volunteer of the Year), and Push and Power’s Ralph Hasna (Inclusive Volunteer) have been honoured for giving up their time as volunteers, officials, coaches, and referees to ensure NSWRL can run Community Football at more than 800 clubs across the state. The Jets and Wright are also among the NSW finalists named today in the NRL Community Awards.
The list of awards also includes 11 Regional Volunteer of the Year winners, who have been acknowledged for making a valuable contribution to the game in their local communities. The NSWRL’s major community volunteer individual award, the “Gordon Lowrie” Volunteer of the Year, will be chosen from this list before being announced at the Brad Fittler Medal at The Star on Monday 12 September.
The Narromine Jets were recognised for the work they do in supporting their community, fundraising initiatives to provide training for their volunteers, overcoming the challenges around staging home games caused by delays to the redevelopment of their ground, and an executive decision to change groups to protect the club’s viability in the community.
Wright was recognised for being a founding member of the annual NSW Aboriginal Rugby League carnival, the Koori Knockout, which is seen as a vehicle for the continuation and renewal of cultural traditions. He has played a key role in the development of the NSW State Library exhibition celebrating 50 years of the Koori Knockout which will be launched this month.
Hasna has been acknowledged by his peers for the work he has done to increase participation in Push and Power Rugby League, which provides opportunities for people with a physical disability in the sport of Rugby League. The sport combines both push and power wheelchair-dependent athletes, does not focus on one particular type of physical disability and provides an option for people not provisioned for by other existing disabled sporting associations in NSW.
The NSWRL has already announced the Community Coach of the Year male and female award winners Jai Midolo (Riverstone Razorbacks) and Cindy Brookfield (Kiama JRLFC), who received their awards during the State of Origin Series and attended the Sydney match as part of their prize.
The Dennis Braybrook NSWRL Referees Association Award (NSWRLRA) will be announced on Saturday 8 October.
The 2022 Gordon Lowrie Memorial Award for the Volunteer of the Year, to be announced next week, will be chosen from the following list of regional winners (supported by Ignite HQ) announced today:
Volunteer of the Year Bidgee Region – Geoff Hale (Goolgowi Rabbitohs)
Hale has been acknowledged for his involvement in creating competitions that allowed six clubs to reform in the region.
Volunteer of the Year Broken Bay Region – Ben Spackman (Central Coast Division Junior Rugby League)
Spackman has sponsored his club for more than 20 years, allowing them to purchase training equipment and playing jerseys.
Volunteer of the Year Central Sydney Region – Scott Bolton (Alexandria Rovers)
Bolton revived the Alexandria Rovers, increasing teams from two in 2019 to seven in 2022 through his engagement with local schools.
Volunteer of the Year East Coast Region – Belinda Martyn (Northern Rivers)
Martyn has taken on a proactive role in forming a steering committee to ensure there is a clear pathway for juniors.
Volunteer of the Year Macarthur Region – Greg Copeland (Camden Rams)
Copeland commits more than 35 hours a week to the Camden Rams ensuring the venue is prepared for all teams across the region.
Volunteer of the Year Newcastle and Maitland Region – Wendy Povey (Morpeth JRL)
Povey is a founding member of Morpeth JRL and is known as the “heart” of the club.
Volunteer of the Year Northern Region – Kevin Lomax (Group 21)
Lomax has been an advocate for female participation, with his work in the pre-season drawing 128 girls to play tackle Rugby League, half of them new to the sport.
Volunteer of the Year South Coast Region – Shannon Couley (Group 7)
Couley is focused on increasing participation and is the go-to person to solve any problem.
Volunteer of the Year Southern Sydney Region – Bruce Hartley (Brighton Seagulls)
Hartley founded Brighton Seagulls and has contributed 60 years to the game.
Volunteer of the Year Western Region – James O’Loughlin (Grenfel JRL)
O’Loughlin was nominated for his positive impact on the community, inspiring children to participate and creating fundraising opportunities.
Volunteer of the Year Western Sydney Region – Jared Anderson (Wentworthville Magpies)
Anderson, a coach of the Wentworthville Magpies Try-time team, creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for anyone wanting to be involved in the game.
2022 NSWRL Community Awards:
NSWRL Community Club of the Year (supported by Steeden) - Narromine Jets
NSWRL “Gordon Lowrie” Volunteer of the Year Award – (supported by Ignite HQ, to be announced on Monday 12 September)
“Dennis Braybrook” NSWRL Referees Association Award (supported by McDonald’s, to be announced on Saturday 8 October)
NSWRL Indigenous Volunteer of the Year (supported by KARI Foundation) – Victor Wright (Campbelltown Ghost Rugby League Club)
NSWRL Inclusive Volunteer of the Year (supported by Multicultural NSW) – Ralph Hasna (Push and Power Rugby League)
NSWRL Coach of the Year Male – Jai Midolo (Riverstone Razorbacks)
NSWRL Coach of the Year Female (supported by Harvey Norman) – Cindy Brookfield (Kiama JRLFC)
