I WAS humbled and honoured this past week when the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) presented me with the Volunteer of the Year Award at their glittering Academy Awards night at the Armidale City Bowling Club.
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Unfortunately, I had to work Saturday and was unable to attend. Peter Annis-Brown, the former executive officer of NIAS collected my award for me.
He said some nice things too, which I thank him for.
I was a little embarrassed about receiving it as I am, and have been paid, to cover sport. But current NIAS executive officer James Cooper told me after Sunday's North Tamworth-Narrabri Group 4 first grade game, in which he played and helped the Bears to a 80-4 win, the award was for a lot of effort over and beyond helping them publicise their wonderful sporting academy over many years.
I thank him and Peter as I fast approach my redundancy.
It has been a pleasure trying to promote the many talented young athletes being given an extra hand by NIAS over the years.
It was even more delightful to see that Miah O'Sullivan and Nathaniel McGrath received the NIAS female and male athlete of the year awards.
They are both outstanding young players who have come through the Tamworth Thunderbolt junior programs into the NIAS as well.
It was little wonder Greg O'Toole and Matt Hobson received the NIAS coach of the Year Award.
Young Matt is a dynamic young coach on the way up, while Greg has been an outstanding coach and player over many years.
I first saw him playing as a guard with the Tamworth Thunderbolts when he was a teenager and marvelled at his brilliant acceleration.
He has converted that into a marvellous coaching career with the Thunderbolts and NIAS.
Pat Hunt, who is off to his fifth Olympics and a product of the Tamworth basketball community, is now the president of the FIBA (Federation of International Basketball Associations) but was delighted to hear Greg, who he coached as a young junior, had received the accolade he did.
The NIAS award wasn't my only award.
The Tamworth Harness Racing Club ran the Geoff Newling Appreciation Pace last Thursday.
That was nice and then they topped it off with some more nice words by racecaller Bob Poetschke, deputy THRC chairman Mark Lowe.
It was a warm and fuzzy feeling after 30 years and a few months of reporting sport.
That will continue on Friday night at the Tamworth Jockey Club when Mike Cashman has organised a thank you and farewell to acknowledge those many years of toil.
That too is something I can only be enormously proud of.
It all starts 6pm, costs $25 for nibblies and refreshments.
Contact Mike Cashman on 67658610 or email him at spartan1s@optusnet.com.au to confirm your attendance so they can cater properly.
* Full list of NIAS Awards in Sport Details on page 21.
