The HSBC Volunteer of the Year award received a record number of nominations this year; undoubtedly a testament to the value placed on those that go above and beyond to care for our clubs and schools nationwide.
The past three weeks has seen a stringent process of review and consideration amongst the Volunteer of the Year panel to identify a shortlist amongst a wealth of worthy nominees:
1. Daniel Hogg – Albury Steamers Rugby Club
2. Peter Kurtz – Biloela RFC, CQRU, QCRU
3. Phil McCrea – Wests Juniors & West Harbour
4. Ronan O’Shea – Southern Lions Rugby Club
5. Tim Adams – Eltham Rugby Club
The award celebrates the true heroes/heroines who make a significant contribution to grassroots rugby; who keep the game going; and will leave a meaningful legacy for others to benefit from.
Nominees were judged on their contribution to Rugby using the ARU’s core values as criteria for the award, including: passion, integrity, discipline, respect and teamwork.
DANIEL HOGG – Albury Steamers Rugby Club
Daniel is a passionate supporter of rugby union and is a long-standing member of the Albury Wodonga Steamers Rugby Club, at both a player and administrator level. Over recent years, and particularly throughout 2017, his focus has been on coaching and developing the stocks of junior players – both boys and girls – within our Club. He has promoted and actively driven the VIVA 7s concept in Albury, introducing over 100 new faces to rugby union.
PETER KURTZ – Biloela RFC, CQRU, QCRU
Peter plays both a coaching and administrative role for his club. Peter has recently been a driving force behind the newly formed Capricornia Rugby. Peter spends countless hours training teams, maintaining the grounds, driving buses, administering the current senior competition in conjunction with the QRU, all whilst running his own business.
PHIL McCREA – Wests Juniors & West Harbour
Phil covers the full spectrum of community rugby involvement – premiership, juniors, women, match official, admin and coaching. Phil is a dedicated and tireless worker across a variety of Rugby platforms from a convener of minis, to a significant contributor to the Board of West Harbour where he has recently rewritten the Club’s 25-year-old constitution. Phil recently worked to create and support a women’s program in the district which has resulted in strong representation by girls new to Rugby.
RONAN O’SHEA – Southern Lions Rugby Club
Ronan has introduced touch rugby union over the past five years to ensure his team keeps the use of its facilities all year round. He has also introduced the Cockburn 7’s – which has attracted teams from Malaysia, Borneo and the Eastern States of Australia – as well as the Cockburn Junior 7’s, all over the past two years. He is innovative and creative when planning our website and posters for different events.
TIM ADAMS – Eltham Rugby Club
Tim plays all roles in his official position of club president. He is always first at the ground for junior pathways days to help set-up, (fields, arrangement of food facilities, gear requirements for teams etc) and if anything is missing or needs to be purchased or retrieved from outside the club he does it. Tim is also the assistant manager for the Senior B squad, in which role he goes above and beyond his core duties, running the line as an assistant referee, offering his skills as the club medic and sometimes even taking on water boy duties; all without question. Tim has worked tirelessly with local councils, businesses (sponsors) and the wider community to grow and expand rugby in the club’s local area and to put the Eltham Rugby Club on the Map.
We’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all five finalists on their well-deserved nominations and thank them for their ongoing and unwavering commitment to the game of rugby.
The winner of The HSBC Volunteer of the Year program will be announced at the Australian Awards Night on Thursday 26th October, where the winner will be awarded a $10,000 grant* from HSBC for their club.
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