Sporting ‘heroes’

In more than 30 years of covering life and times in the Wimmera-mallee, the one aspect of culture that never ceases to amaze is the dedication of people to their sporting clubs.

Revelations of how much time and effort volunteers put into what are often relatively tiny organisations can be staggering.

When you stand back for a moment to absorb what the many individuals have contributed, often through a lifetime of commitment, you find yourself wondering where we would be if these people didn’t exist.

Every wind-up sporting vote-count and presentation night, where tables are filled with the club faithful, reminds us of this often unrecognised community and cultural asset.

And there is little wonder that when an individual from this fraternity is singled out for special recognition that generous applause is heartfelt and meaningful.

What’s important to realise is that this type of volunteer dedication goes well beyond simply supporting sport.

It is usually about a healthy compulsion to support ideals, communities, friends, families and, most importantly, children. People take on these responsibilities out of dedication, responsibility and even love for their associations and we should never take them for granted.

Looking after footballnetball clubs for example, can in some circumstances represent unpaid full-time jobs and can be taxing if there are not enough hands on deck.

As we approach the end of another season of winter sport, we appeal for the people who throw themselves into the fray of club organisation to take time to have a breather.

We also appeal to others around them to consider how they can help shoulder the load.