Great work of a local sporting club in Wellington, has recently been recognised with a major statewide award presented to the group.
Recent winner of the “Good Sports” prize, Wellington Warriors FC offers teams, training, support, and competition, for kids and adults in our biggest participation football code for our region’s second-largest community.
This provides many benefits to the local community, because sport is a great way to engage kids and adults in healthy, outdoor activity that builds friendships, camaraderie, a sense of purpose, skill, and achievement.
In that vein, the “Good Sports” award is a program aimed at supporting and inspiring amateur clubs to set-up an environment for players, volunteers, supporters and officials to help tackle social issues such as alcohol, drugs, smoking, and mental.
“We’re the only soccer club in Wellington, and we offer teams right from under fives through to under 13s in the Dubbo competitions, but we’re trying to build our numbers back-up again,” club official, Jane Winter told Dubbo Photo News after the surprise win.
“We also have some adult teams, including a women’s team, who this year were in the second grade competition, and a first and third grade men’ s sides,” she added.
Like many a volunteer in our amateur sporting world, Jane is a positive, can-do type of person who wears many hats with the club.
“I coordinate the girls’ team and I captain-coach the women’s team; though I’m definitely at the end of my career,” Jane laughs.
“I also coach another junior team with the club.”
The Good Sports award aims to provide support for volunteer clubs to help them pass-on a good news message about the benefits of sport for health, participation, and mental well-being.
“The organisation that presents that award have provided us with things like ‘lists and tricks’ for getting that message across,” Jane said.
“They also can help us apply for grants to help the club grown and do its work,” she revealed.
Like all amateur sporting clubs in Australia, volunteers are the lifeblood of its continuing success and ongoing viability.
“Definitely, we’re always looking for anyone to put their hands-up who are keen to help-out,” Jane said.
“Whether it be coaching, on the committee, setting-up and packing-up, or working at the canteen… we’re got our AGM sometime soon, so keep your eye out, if you want to get involved,” she concluded.