Taylah ‘humbled’ by volunteer award
Taylah Kirker is always willing to lend a helping hand when she’s at the netball courts at Saxton Field during the winter months.
The 18-year-old plays for Prices Black in the premier competition and said it was the support she received as a player that motivated her to give back to the sport.
There’s also the fact that her family have always been involved in the local sports scene in Nelson and they too have contributed countless hours to various codes.
‘‘It’s a family thing I suppose. I’m always at the courts so I may as well volunteer while I’m down there,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s always enjoyable helping others and getting down there and supporting the ones who have helped me through reps is great too.’’
The Nayland College student was last month named youth volunteer of the year at the New Zealand Netball Awards in Auckland, receiving the accolade in front of many current and past Silver Ferns.
Kirker, whose cousin is Silver Fern Te Paea Selby-Rickit, has volunteered in many ways, coaching teams at Nayland College and Broadgreen Intermediate School, umpiring, being the DJ at social events, and even babysitting and helping out with fundraising sausage sizzles.
She was nominated for the award by Nelson Netball and said it was ‘‘humbling’’ to be the winner.
‘‘You never expect to get anything in return. It was really cool and a great experience,’’ she said.
‘‘It was awesome seeing all the big names and having my cousin there and going up and surprising her was cool.’’
Nelson Netball centre manager Lindsay Filiata thanked Kirker for her hard work over the past 12 months and said she was an extremely deserving recipient.
‘‘We know she is a special person and contributes to netball by doing a variety of roles including being part of the centre youth advisory team, coaching her school teams, umpiring, volunteering at holiday programmes or manning a fundraising sausage sizzle to name a few,’’ Filiata said.
Kirker is moving to Christchurch next year to study health science at the University of Canterbury.
But for now she’s busy on the touch rugby fields, her eagerness to volunteer carrying over to the summer codes as well.