Champion volunteers

This article appears in the November 2009 edition of Sportshorts.

Profiling the efforts of sporting volunteers in NSW

Noel Poynter

Current club/association/ organisations:

• Junee Swimming Club Inc

Current volunteer role(s):

• President and coach, Junee Swimming Club Inc

Previous role(s):

• Riverina Academy of Sport
• Sun Rice Australia swimming clinics
• South West Districts Winter Program
• State squads coach
• Coaching variety of athletes, including triathletes, athletes with a disability

How long have you been volunteering?
Over 30 years.

Why do I volunteer?
To pass on the enjoyment I’ve had and the knowledge I’ve gained from well over 40 years’ involvement in swimming. I have been involved in our club since the age of ten, so I’ve picked up a thing or two about the sport in that time! I really enjoy coaching and have worked with some of our country’s best coaches and athletes, including Bill Sweetenham (a former head coach of national and international teams) and Vince Raleigh (coach of swimmer Brenton Rickards).

I also like to see kids achieve their personal goals in swimming. And knowing that I have contributed to these kids learning a life-long skill that could help save them if they fell into water is enormously gratifying.

What does your role involve? How many hours a week do you dedicate?
As President I manage the Junee Swimming Club with the club committee. I also run the club’s coaching programs. We have three squads – our top, intermediate and junior squads. My wife Edna coaches the intermediate squad and daughter Sue the juniors, so it’s a bit of a family affair. Volunteering takes about 10 to 12 hours a week.

What’s the key to getting people to volunteer for sport?
Ask them! Some people when they first get involved with a club are too shy to volunteer straight away. They usually watch, wait and see what goes on first then as their confidence develops, they feel more ready to accept a small role such as timekeeper - if you ask them.

Splitting larger jobs into smaller, more manageable roles is another way to get people involved. This year we created two extra positions which had previously been part of the president’s function – raffles coordinator/fundraiser (we hold six street raffles a year) and barbecue caterer. Every Wednesday night we hold a barbecue at the pool so that the kids don’t have to wait until they get home after training to have something to eat. Many of our swimmers live on farms and come from surrounding towns, so they face a long drive home.

We also ask at least one parent to join the club when they enroll their children. When they join we give them a club booklet and calendar of events so that they know what to expect throughout the year. Then they can plan ahead for their commitment. For example, when we have a swimming carnival there are always jobs to be done and usually everyone pitches in and helps out because they know their kids are getting the benefit.

What’s been your most rewarding moment?
In terms of actual awards, getting three: the Australian Sports Medal – awarded during the Sydney 2000 Olympics for individual service to a sport; Australia Day Sports Medal for local excellence, and the Australian Sports Award for Services to Sport in Junee. Having two triathletes that I worked with make Australian teams was a highlight. And seeing the kids I coach do the very best they can is constantly rewarding.

What’s not so good about volunteering?
When people say “I can’t help you because..” and you find out later they made an excuse to get themselves out of lending a hand. It’s disappointing when people won’t volunteer when you are helping their children achieve so much in their chosen sport.

What would you spend your time on if you didn’t volunteer?
Playing golf, fishing, travelling with my wife and spending more time with the grandkids!

We want to hear from you!

Do you know a champion volunteer? We’re looking for champion volunteers to profile in upcoming issues of Sportshorts.

Volunteers can be ‘champions’ for all sorts of reasons – e.g. innovations and great ideas, hours dedicated, helping to grow your sport and making sport special for others. We want to hear about a range of volunteers.

Email your nomination and briefly (100 words) tell us why they’re a ‘champion volunteer’. Email Shannon Dixon.