An innovative junior club who overcame historical tensions and united their community, a former Junior Representatives player who put serious injury behind him to inspire other Physical Disability Rugby League players, and a pensioner who has devoted 25 years of service to his club are among the major award winners announced today in the annual NSWRL Community Awards that acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by more than 28,000 volunteers across the state.
Moree Junior Rugby League Club (NSWRL Community Club of the Year), Bryce Crane (NSWRL Inclusive Volunteer of the Year) and Wayne Bartle (NSWRL Volunteer of the Year – Western Sydney Region) were honoured for giving their time as volunteers, officials, coaches, and/or referees to ensure the NSWRL can run Community Football at more than 700 clubs across the state.
There are 19 award winners all up, including 12 Regional Volunteer of the Year winners, who have been acknowledged for the valuable contribution they make to the game in their local communities.
The NSWRL’s major community volunteer individual award, the Gordon Lowrie NSWRL Volunteer of the Year, will be chosen from the list of Regional Volunteer winners before being announced at the Brad Fittler Medal at The Star on Monday 4 September.
“The NSWRL Community Awards have always been an important event on the NSWRL calendar as they acknowledge the thankless work that is done by volunteers around the state,” NSWRL Head of Communication and Community Engagement Dr Tracie Edmondson said.
“There are more than 28,000 volunteers who give up their time every week to keep community Rugby League running, with jobs ranging from managing registrations to managing the BBQ.
“The fact there are so many regional winners this year who hold administrative positions at their respective clubs but are also happy to help with other tasks, including mowing or marking the fields, or cleaning up at the end of the day, reflects the dedication our wonderful volunteers possess.
“I would like to congratulate all our winners and thank all our volunteers for the work they do every season to keep our great game on the field.”
The NSWRL Gordon Lowrie Volunteer of the Year, NSWRL Club of the Year and NSWRL Indigenous Volunteer of the Year are automatic inclusions for the NRL Community Awards, with the winners to be announced at a later date.
The NSWRL Club of the Year receives a $2000 voucher from Steeden for club equipment and assistance in hosting a club BBQ, while the NSWRL Regional Award winners receive an invite to the Brad Fittler Medal and a plaque to commemorate their achievements.
The NSWRL Male and Female Coaches of the Year were announced earlier this month as their prizes included tickets to an Ampol State of Origin match at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The Dennis Braybrook NSWRL Referees Association Award will be announced in October.
2023 NSWRL COMMUNITY AWARDS (full biographies are included below the list of award winners)
NSWRL Community Club of the Year (supported by Steeden)
Moree Junior Rugby League Club
NSWRL Gordon Lowrie Volunteer of the Year Award (supported by Ignite HQ)
To be announced 4 September
Dennis Braybrook NSWRL Referees Association Award (supported by McDonald’s)
To be announced 7 October
NSWRL Indigenous Volunteer of the Year (supported by KARI Foundation)
Candita Collins (Narwan Eels Rugby League Sporting Club)
NSWRL Inclusive Volunteer of the Year (supported by What Ability)
Bryce Crane (Sydney Roosters)
NSWRL Coach of the Year Male (supported by Ignite HQ)
Dave Turner (Ballina Seagulls RLFC)
NSWRL Coach of the Year Female (supported by Harvey Norman)
Trish Bell (Penshurst RSL Kookaburras)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Broken Bay Region)
Stanley Watson (North Sydney District Rugby League Referees Association)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Central Sydney Region)
Noella Merrick (Leichhardt Wanderers JRLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (East Coast Region)
Christopher Hollis (Taree Red Rovers JRLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Newcastle and Maitland Region)
Jack O’Neill (Mallabula Panthers JRLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Macarthur Region)
Melody Sekene (Liverpool Catholic Club JRLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Monaro Region)
Rick Porreca (North Canberra Bears RLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Northern Region)
William (Billy) Hamilton (Inverell Minor League Hawks)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Riverina Region)
Sam Panarello (Yenda Blueheelers RLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (South Coast Region)
Kristie Ruprecht (Dapto Canaries JRLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Southern Sydney Region)
Angela Ndaira (Kingsgrove Colts JRLFC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Western Sydney Region)
Wayne Bartle (Colyton Colts JRLC)
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Western Region)
Peter Morris (Lithgow Storm JRLFC and Workies Wolves RLFC)
NSWRL Community Rugby League Club of the Year - Moree Junior Rugby League
Moree has one of the highest youth crime rates in NSW, but Moree Junior Rugby League has worked hard to provide them with a positive outlet and create a safe, supportive environment in the process. The club has created many initiatives to increase the recruitment and retention of players and volunteers including rebranding the club to promote respect, positivity, unity, discipline, and inclusivity. The town's two senior clubs, the Boars and the Boomerangs, who had previously been fierce adversaries, were brought together to ease any community tension with the colours and logos of both clubs incorporated to create a neutral environment for all participants. For the first time in 2023, the club has every grade from Under 6s to Under 16s including all available League Tag age groups.
Inclusive Volunteer of the Year - Bryce Crane (Sydney Roosters)
Crane played for the Narellan Jets and Western Magpies SG Ball squad in 2020 before a nerve injury left him with paralysis of his right arm. He now plays in the Physical Disability Rugby League competition and has represented the Sydney Roosters in the Sydney competition, NSW City in the annual Country v City game, and Australia in the Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup. He is also a positive role model for other players with physical disabilities by providing a supportive and inclusive environment for them to develop their own games.
NSWRL Indigenous Volunteer of the Year - Candita Collins (Narwan Rugby League and Sporting Club)
A well-known and loved figure at the Narwan Rugby League and Sporting Club, Collins has played an instrumental role in turning the club’s fortunes around in her 10 years of service. Collins has played a vital role in fixing the club’s relationship with the community, hitting record participation numbers for the 2023 season, and creating a strong family culture around the wider community. She is the Treasurer at the Eels but also holds roles as trainer, secretary, grants officer and ground manager. Collins has helped raise awareness of the Indigenous community and Rugby League by organising an Under 18s side for the first time to provide youths with a safe and supportive environment and promotes the club’s motto of Family-Community-Football.
NSWRL Male Coach of the Year - Dave Turner (Ballina Seagulls RLFC)
Turner is a coach at the Ballina Seagulls who manages a huge group of 32 children. He lost his house to a fire in 2021, and after it was rebuilt and he was two weeks away from moving back in, lost it again to floods. Despite the personal hardship, Turner continued to coach, and the team remained undefeated on its way to winning the premiership. He does not tolerate poor behaviour, bullying or a lack of commitment to the team, and ensures a positive environment for the children.
NSWRL Female Coach of the Year - Trish Bell (Penshurst RSL Kookaburras JRLFC)
Bell is a driving force for women’s Rugby League in the St George district and is involved with the Dragons’ Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup team. She also coaches the Kookaburras women’s Open Age team and played an integral role in getting an Under 16s girls’ team on the field. In her first year of coaching, the women’s Open Age team finished runners-up in the premiership and dominated the awards at the club’s presentation night.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Broken Bay Region) - Stanley Watson
Volunteering as a referee coach for more than 30 years, Watson is a key figure in mentoring up-and-coming referees. He started refereeing with Western Suburbs, joining North Sydney in 1991. He has held various positions in the Referees Association including Director of Referees Development (2007-09, 2012), Intermediate Vice-President (2002-05) and NSW Referees delegate (1993-2019). Watson teaches the important skills and vital knowledge to those he is mentoring including teamwork, discipline and remaining positive. With over three decades of knowledge and experiences, Watson consistently works hard to improve the game with better referees.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Central Sydney Region) - Noella Merrick
Known as the ‘heartbeat of the club’ at the Leichhardt Wanderers, Merrick has been secretary for the past 10 years. She first became involved when her son started playing in the Under 8s and has remained even though her children have grown up and no longer play for the club. She has worked tirelessly to grow women’s Rugby League and was a huge factor in the Wanderers entering their first All Abilities team this season. Merrick brings her local community together by creating a warm, friendly environment.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (East Coast Region) - Christopher Hollis
Volunteering at the Taree Red Rovers Junior Rugby League Club, Hollis is passionate about ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be involved in Rugby League. He holds roles as President, Referee, Ground Manager and Coach and continually provides Rugby League opportunities to Indigenous and socially disadvantaged children, giving everyone a chance to play football. Hollis, who has been a volunteer for 25 years, has led a group of volunteers in helping mow the footy fields and refereed to ensure children get a game. He is a positive role model for young players coming through the ranks, promoting correct behaviour both on and off the field.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Macarthur Region) - Melody Sekene
A respected figure at Liverpool Catholic Club, Sekene holds many roles including secretary, sports trainer, first aid officer and ground manager. Over her time at the club, Sekene has helped grow the club’s participation numbers to hit a record in 2023 with more than 600 players registered to play. She is also responsible for growing the club’s sponsorship opportunities, including starting an Open Age team with its own sponsor. Being a positive presence to everyone involved, Sekene works hard to create a strong culture in and around the club.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Monaro Region) - Rick Porreca
Porreca is a sports trainer at the North Canberra Bears and has been volunteering for more than 30 years. He averages about 26 hours a week and has mentored up-and-coming trainers, taught strapping courses, helped with representative teams, including Australian Schoolboys and Harold Matthews, and taught players the importance of being respectful to referees. He is a well-loved figure in his community. He devotes his time to both the men’s and women’s Open Age teams and worked alongside Katrina Fanning with the Australian Indigenous women’s team.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Newcastle and Maitland Region) - Jack O’Neill
O’Neill has been involved with the Mallabula Panthers for three years and has roles as President, coach, trainer and referee. He coaches the Under 8s, acts as a trainer for the Under 12s and has filled in as coach for the Under 6s when their coach has been absent. He has also stepped forward to officiate when referees have been unavailable for the game. When he took over, the club only had one team but that has expanded now to five teams. He works full-time but helps with line marking where needed.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Northern Region) - William (Billy) Hamilton
Hamilton has devoted more than 20 years to the Inverell Minor League Hawks and gives up more than 25 hours a week for the club. He is a Life Member of Group 19 and the Hawks, the Group 19 JRL Chairman, a committee member for the Hawks, a trainer, coach, groundsman and referee. On top of his full-time job, he maintains the home ground every week by mowing and marking the field, cleaning the toilets and sheds, and assisting all the coaches. Hamilton travels upwards of 100km any given weekend to help Group 19 clubs and played a key role in getting Tingha Juniors back up and running. He believes that every child should have an opportunity to play Rugby League and during his time as Group 19 Chairman, participation has grown by 24 per cent with Group 19 JRL expanding from 16 to 26 mini sides (Under 6s to Under 9s).
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Riverina Region) - Sam Panarello
Panarello has been with the Yenda Blueheelers for 25 years and is currently the President of the Club. Since he started, player numbers have grown from five to 120 participants. He operates a commercial cleaning business seven days a week but still finds time to attend games, even if they require travelling for more than one hour and is always there for training, game days and meetings. He is also involved in various fundraising activities for cancer charity Can Assist and the Oncology unit at Griffith Base Hospital.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (South Coast Region) - Kristie Ruprecht
Ruprecht has been with the Dapto Canaries for 10 years. She is the Club Secretary, manages the Under 16s team and looks after the social media pages. Ruprecht is one of the first people to arrive at the ground, helps with the canteen and the BBQ, opens locker rooms and manages the lights, equipment, and club merchandise. She expedites registrations to ensure players can play the following weekend, stands up for players with weaker skill sets, and encourages team photos with the opposition after a game.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Southern Sydney Region) - Angela Ndaira
Ndaira has been involved with the Kingsgrove Colts JRLFC for 15 years where she works an average of 40 hours a week. She is Secretary of the club and was a driving force in setting up the first women’s team in the district four years ago which has now expanded to five teams. She stays late most nights to help families with their registrations, is active with the canteen and BBQ on game days, and has dedicated her time for the past 12 months to managing St George Dragons’ Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup team, as well as juggling her own family of four children.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Western Sydney Region) - Wayne Bartle
Bartle is a pensioner who has devoted 25 years of service to the Colyton Colts JRLC as the club’s Ground Manager and BBQ Manager. He works about 25 hours a week marking the fields, cleaning the dressing sheds and toilets, and ordering food and coordinating the BBQ on game days. He has no car and walks to the ground to perform his weekly duties and has no children or grandchildren that play for the Colts but does his role for the love of the club and the game. As Ground Manager he ensures coaches, trainers and managers behave accordingly and all games are played in the right spirit.
NSWRL Volunteer of the Year (Western Region) - Peter Morris
Morris has been involved with the Lithgow Storm JRLFC and Workies Wolves RLFC for more than 12 years and devotes an average of 40 hours a week to the club during the season. He is the Lithgow Storm JRLC President, Workies Wolves Vice-President, Group 10 JRL Board Vice-President, Under 18s Men’s coach, senior and junior trainer, and Referee Coordinator. Morris is the first person to arrive at the ground for home games and the last to leave. He ensures every child is provided with an opportunity to play Rugby League if they wish to and has waived fees for players who may not financially be able to afford it.
