The majority of volunteers who step up each week to help run junior sporting games are mostly parents who work fulltime, have families of their own, and on top of that still dedicate countless hours each week to coaching, team manage­ment, ground preparation, administration, fundraising, canteen duties and game-day operations.

When you add those hours up across a season, it’s a considerable commit­ment. For the Parkes Marist Junior Rugby League Club to have a successful home game, at least 5 volunteers are needed per team, Coach, Leaguesafe, Fao, Table and Ground control. These are compulsory vol­unteers legally required by NSWRL if these positions are not filled then kids can not take to the field. Over the course of the day across the whole operation it’s easy to add up to over 80 volunteers to get the day off the ground.

Tina Morrison, Treasurer for the Parkes Marist Junior Rugby League Club said “Un­fortunately, it can be quite disheartening when calls for assistance go unanswered.

The reality is that junior rugby league, or that of any sporting club doesn’t just hap­pen on its own—it relies entirely on volun­teers.

“It’s also important for people to know that volunteering isn’t something they need to be intimidated by. All volunteer roles are fully supported, with clear processes in place and plenty of help available. We have a fantastic committee and group of volunteers who make volunteering enjoy­able, rewarding and, at times, a lot of fun.

It’s also a great way to meet other parents and become part of the club community.

“Some parents put their hand up to help, and return week after week, year after year, simply because they enjoy being in­volved and seeing the enjoyment in the kids’ faces. We simply couldn’t do it without them and can never thank them enough for their dedication and commitment.”

Every sporting club recognises the sacri­fices made by those volunteers, sponsors and community members who continue to step up year after year to ensure local kids have the opportunity to play.

“All we ask is for one parent per partici­pant to give an hour of their time at a home game during the season weather it be help­ing set up, on canteen duty or packing up at the end of the day, if every parent with a player registered fulfilled this obligation then the impact it would have would be a great outcome for the club.”

“Without volunteers junior footy simply would not be possible- it’s not an organi­sation that cannot rely solely on committee members or Coaches to get the day off the ground we need parents of players to step up and assist at any opportunity they can,” said Tina.

For any one who wants to volunteer but doesn’t know what they can do to help they can chat to any of the committee members or contact the coach of their child’s team who can point them in the direction of where help is needed.

Congratulations to Forbes Rugby Club on being awarded $300,000 for new lighting at Grinstead Oval, courtesy of NSW Club Grants. This is the fourth time the club has applied for the grant, finally being success­ful in securing the funding needed to install new lighting on Grinstead Oval.

Forbes Rugby Union Club President Wayne O’Neil said, “The grant applica­tions were done by a number of different committees over the years. It has been a committee venture to continue to put in the grants.”

The club thank Phil Donato for his sup­port and also to the Forbes Shire Council who had been supportive each time the club submitted a grant application, provid­ing letters of support and backing the club the whole way.

Wayne said, “The lighting upgrade will be significant due to our increased numbers in the club, the club has grown from having two grades to seven grades, with wall and additional girls teams. On a Thursday night we can have 150-160 people here, this will give us two grounds now to train on, it’s a gamechanger for us.”

Local State Member for Orange Phil Donato said, “I was happy to support the

ggproject to help secure this funding that will see new high lux LED lights being erected around the ground, and it was great to join with them all, and Daisy the groodle, for this exciting announcement.”

The FRUC also recently upgraded the lighting on the south circle oval. Funds for this upgrade were raised by the club throughout the year, but majority of the funding came from the well supported an­nual FRUC Presidents Luncheon.