Volunteer of the year
Jill Warner
Warner passionately encourages players, umpires and manages in netball. This year alone she managed five teams as well as juggling the running of a club. She gives a huge amount of time and energy in her roles as president of the club and in managing the teams which she does with passion and great spirit.
Kerry Austin
Austin is the ‘‘go to man’’ giving incredible amounts of his time for the betterment of the Inglewood United Rugby Club. He is also heavily involved with the Taranaki Community Stadium Trust. He co-ordinated and project managed the volunteer army over the summer to make recent upgrades to the stadium happen.
Morris West
West has been the Taranaki rugby mascot (Ferdinand or Ferdie) for 17 out of the last 20 years, recently passing the 100 game milestone as the official mascot. At the games he engages with young children with his warmth and kindness to bring joy to hundreds of people each year. He also visits schools, rest homes and public events to represent Taranaki rugby and to bring people joy, and often on his own accord and at his own expense.
Michael Corkill
As a voluntary lifeguard, Corkill’s contributions to all aspects of surf lifesaving are phenomenal. Not only has he patrolled the beaches, instructed, examined, mentored younger lifeguards, advocated for other regions, he has also gained multiple awards. He is a true example of the surf lifesaving motto ‘‘in it for life’’.
Glen Taylor
Taylor is an invaluable volunteer in the Taranaki hockey community. He is involved at every level of the sport from umpiring, managing and mentoring umpires, assists in running seasonal leagues and even spends time packing away equipment at the end of the games. He is also a board member and the chairman of the youth council.
Bubby TeHuia
Tehuia has selflessly given up so much of her time to get the rugby league community playgroup programme up and running. She runs this unique initiative on a weekly basis out of Western Suburbs Tigers. She always has a warm positive and enthusiastic approach to new whanau entering the playgroup.
Phil Gayton
Gayton is the face of volleyball in Taranaki. As well as supporting and developing players at an elite level and school level players, he also provides ongoing support for community and social volleyball. This year he was elected as an inaugural life member of the Spotswood Volleyball Club and the Taranaki Volleyball Association.