Heywire: Sporting Volunteers

VOICEOVER: Heywire — regional youth telling it like it is.

MAN: 2012 Central Victoria finalists.

JARVIS HOLT: I'm Jarvis Holt, I'm 16 and live on a farm in Kurraca, 10km south of Wedderburn. I'm typical of most country kids who live and breathe sport, be it in any capacity — player, scorer, supporter, boundary ump, mascot, banner-maker or benchwarmer. Dirty knees, diehard dads and hot pies are part of the package. My dad is president of the local footy club and Mum is his silent secretary. Beyond the hype and beyond the focus on the players and position on the ladder, it's easy to fail to notice the women who tirelessly work behind the scenes. There are mums, sisters, wives, aunts, girlfriends and grannies who wash the dirty footy clothes, pack the sports bags, make the soup, work in the kitchen, score, fundraise, interchange steward, spectate regardless of the weather, patch up grazes, honk their horns, offer praises, wipe away tears and give comforting hugs. The club I play for in country Victoria boasts an amazing group of women who call themselves 'PMS'. It stands for 'Pink Moustache Squad'. The population of Wedderburn is only 750, which is a small number of people to call upon for their multitude of tasks. But quietly they go about their business without fuss. Sure the men do a tremendous job as well and deserve every accolade that comes their way, but they are the face of the game and any spare pats on the shoulder are usually delivered to their brawn. But don't misunderstand me, the workload of the committee men is unrelenting. They alone are a powerhouse of volunteers. Our club encourages young members to get on board the working team too. We are called upon for jobs such as scoring, umpiring, coaching, fundraising, pram pushing, sweeping, cleaning, cooking, even gardening and so on. I'm really proud to be a part of a proactive club who involves young and old. Last year the mighty Redbacks won eight out of nine premierships. The spirit of our country community survives and thrives on a team effort. Footy has so many hidden heroes and if you want to be a part of something positive and rewarding, then put your hand up for a job and get involved. Volunteers reap more than they invest as being a part of a team makes you feel like your effort is important and valued. The footy club represents all that is great about rural life. Go, Redbacks!