AWARDS

As the sun set on Saturday 18^th May, the Wests Group Macarthur auditorium lit up as they honoured the enormous contribution of volunteers at the 2024 Wests Sports Volunteer of the Year Awards.  Amongst the attendees in the room were Wests Sports Council Members and a broad network of sporting clubs and associations to the Macarthur sporting community.

As a long-time supporter and sponsor of sport in the region, Wests Group hosts the awards program to acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contribution of time and effort that sporting volunteers give their codes within Macarthur – with the overall volunteer sector in Australia said to represent around $4 billion dollars of labour input nationally. The event, held at Wests League Club, coincides with National Volunteer Week – Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering, and is a completely free of charge celebration for our sporting community.

The program accepts both long service submissions as well as an overall Youth (under 21yrs) and Adult (21+yrs) of the Year nominations and was open to 30 member clubs and associations of the Wests Sports Council, who deliver local sport to Macarthur via a network representing upwards of 35,000 athletes, administrators, and volunteers.

Alan Buxton, Chairman of Wests Group Macarthur comments “This is a key event on the Wests calendar, and we are delighted to celebrate the remarkable contribution of time and effort all the volunteers have given and continue to give to their chosen sport”.

Martin Bullock, Chairperson of the Wests Sports Committee at Wests Group Macarthur adds “Wests Group Macarthur has a long remarkable history as the biggest supporter of sport right across the Macarthur region. This commitment – combined with our commitment to numerous significant charities and community causes – provides us with a truly deep understanding of the value of the many volunteers that support all these activities. Tonight’s event is all about recognising the wonderful support that those sporting clubs and associations are able to call on to enable athletes – young and old – to participate in sport at all levels.

Throughout the nomination period from February to April 2024 over 100 nominations were received from various codes including netball, hockey, rugby league, football, referees, cricket, and more.

Each service nominee is recognised with a service pin, certificate, and gift from Wests with the total list of recipients cumulatively representing around 127 decades of service to sport in the region.

Wests extended the invitation for the completely complimentary celebration to up to ten representatives of each of the Wests Sports Council members made up of presidents, committee members, and volunteer nominations in an evening hosted by former Australian Olympian, Sarah Ryan. Guests were treated to beverages and a premium menu prepared by Wests Chefs of antipasto, seafood platters, and a main course of Chicken or Lamb, as well as dessert.

The night was well attended with special guests also including Camden Mayor Ashleigh Cagney, Campbelltown Mayor Geoge Griess, and NSWRL CEO David Trodden and featured a fantastic panel discussion featuring three young sporting superstars, Amy Sligar of Giants Netball, Australian Olympic Diver Sam Fricker and Future Australian Olympian Joshua Azzopardi. To round out the night, the audience was left in stitches by the comedic genius of the world-famous comedic ventriloquist, Darren Carr.

WINNER Youth Volunteer of the Year – Elizabeth Dyet, Wests Hockey Club

Elizabeth has been playing at Wests Hockey Club since she was 5 years old. Four years ago Libby took in interest in wanting to coach the youngest players and started helping out with the Under 6 team as an assistant coach and for the past two years hold the role of Head Coach of the Under 8’s team.

Libby also volunteers at many club events such as Bunnings BBQ. Libby is always willing to help out where she can all you have to do is ask and she will be there to help. She does not go out of her way to be recognised, she just loves to helped.

Libby is a very hard working and beautiful young lady. She has taken on the role of Under 8’s coach again this year which is no easy task. At training she helps out with the Under 6 team when their coach cannot make it.

On top of this Libby has gone out of her way and taken on mentoring our Under 6’s coach who is only 15. Libby gives words of advice and supports our young coach in every way she can. In 2019 and 2023 she received the Wests Hockey Club Junior Sportsperson of the year which was well deserved. All the minis love Libby and Libby loves them. She is a highly respected junior of the Wests Hockey Club.

 Pictured: Elizabeth Dyet of Wests Hockey Club accepts her prize with Wests Group Macarthur Chairman Alan Buxton and Deputy Chairman Paul Lake.

Winner Adult Volunteer of the Year – Elizabeth Blowes, Campbelltown District Netball Association

This year Liz celebrates her 25^th year of volunteering her time to the sport of netball, in particular the Campbelltown District Netball Association. Liz is always going above and beyond for her club and the game of netball that we all know and love.

At the young age of 12, Liz commenced her path to obtain her umpires accreditation and you will still see Liz around the courts umpiring today. A few years later at the age of 15 she begun her coaching career and now holds the position of coaching coordinator at her club.

At the age of 18 Liz joined Varroville Netball Club as a committee member where she where she took on many roles including club secretary, and Vice president. Liz current holds 3 roles on the committee, Child Welfare Officer, Equipment Officer and Club president. Liz takes every measure to ensure every player and their families have a safe, positive & successful netball journey.

Pictured: Elizabeth Blowes of Campbelltown District Netball Association accepts her prize with Wests Group Macarthur Chairman Alan Buxton and Deputy Chairman Paul Lake.

In addition to the Wests Sports Volunteer of the Year Awards, Wests Group Macarthur also provides a seasonal awards program as well as a substantial amount of funding each year towards the ongoing success of each member club of the Wests Sports Council.

The Wests Sports Council is an integral part of Wests Group Macarthur’s commitment to sport in the region and aims to create simple pathways for community access to affordable and well-administered sporting opportunities within a local network of sporting clubs and associations.

For more on the Wests Sports Council and Wests Group commitment to being the Home of Sport visit www.westslc.com.au/Sport.

Contact:

Katie Petkovski

Group Marketing and Communications Manager

P (02) 4628 4188 | D (02) 4634 5683| M 0405 486 495| E katiep@westslc.com.au