Last night the New South Wales Rugby League held their annual Volunteer of the Year Awards night (Thursday, 28 September) at the Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. Parramatta had two volunteers take home Awards, Darren Deitz and David Caire.
Darren Deitz was awarded with the NSWRL “Gordon Lowrie” Volunteer of the year award. For his continued efforts and involvement within the Rugby League community for over 30 years. Late August Darren also claimed the Ray Price NRL Community Award at Parramatta’s Ken Thornett Medal.
At the awards Rugby Leagues key contributors, the volunteers, are recognised for their hard work. They are an invaluable part of the game and it is their night to be recognised.
Deitz not only devotes a large part of his life to the sport but to the people with Special Needs and Intellectual Disabilities. Darren established his own program in 2013 called ‘Try Time’, a program that is catered for people with Special Needs and Intellectual Disabilities that allows them to be a part of the Rugby League world.
Parramatta’s second volunteer to take home an award was David Caire, awarded with the NSWRL District Representatives Volunteer of the Year Award.
Caire has provided the club with his continued service over 17 years. David assists with the Junior Rep and Talent Squad programs every night of the week, running from November to August every year. David also contributes to each NRL game day from beginning to end.
Complete list of winners at the 2017 Volunteer of the Year Awards night:
- Balmain Junior Rugby League "George Thompson Memorial" Award - Tina Marsters
- Bulldogs Junior Rugby League “Sandy Steuerwald" Award - John Grealy
- Cronulla Junior Rugby League "Phil Murray” Club Volunteer of the Year Award - Simone Osfield and Sonia Cooper
- Illawarra Junior Rugby League "Col and Billie Purcell” Award - Cathy Astill
- Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League Football Club’s "Phil Murray” Club Volunteer of the Year - Bob Butcher
- North Sydney Junior League "Bruce Walker” Volunteer of the Year - Matt Girvan
- Parramatta Junior Rugby League Volunteer of the Year Award - Darren Deitz
- Penrith District Oak Volunteer of the Year Award - Diane Lumtin
- St George “Robert Stone” Memorial Award - Mitchell Sim
- South Sydney Junior Award - George Carayannis
- Life Member Bondi United "Chloe Byron" Memorial Award - Kellie Lane
- Western Suburbs “Jim Medway” Club Person of the Year Award - Charlie Alam
- NSWRLRA "Dennis Braybrook" Memorial Award - Ken McNaught
- NSWRL District Representatives Volunteer of the Year - David Caire
- NSWRL Grassroots Club of the Year Award - Carlingford Cougars
- NSWRL Indigenous Volunteer of the Year Award - Barry Vale
- NSWRL.com.au Media Volunteer of the Year - Nicholas Kutnjak
- NSWRL Women In League Award - Rebecca Kupu and Kerri Mcdiarmid
- NSWRL Respect Award - Botany Rams
- NSWRL Inclusive Volunteer Award - Amanda Pentecost
- NSWRL Harmony Award - Ozzy Cook (Cook Island Rugby League)
- NSWRL "John Quinn" Award for services to Rugby League Award - Bill Demanuele
- NSWRL "Les Matthews" Referee Volunteer of the Year Award - Paul Archer
- NSWRL "Gordon Lowrie" Volunteer of the Year Award - Darren Deitz
For more information from the night visit NSWRL.com.au
