This month’s Sportsmans Warehouse Community Volunteer of the Month winner is so committed to the cause that she is currently volunteering as a community recognition officer to recognise other volunteers in her chosen sport of netball.
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While O’Brien has always been a keen player and fan of the game, it is the on-court officiating and development roles that have really got their hooks in, as she celebrates half a century with a whistle this year.
The Camden born local star has called Tamworth home since 1988, and said that it was that time that she became more involved with the umpiring than playing, although the life long passion was sparked as a school girl on the outskirts of Sydney.
“When I was 12 all the girls in the team did the umpires program because it was compulsory for players to umpire in high school,” O’Brien said.
“I just thought if you are going to do something you do it to the best of your ability.”
For the past 28 years O’Brien has been putting that attitude to practice on the courts, not only in Tamworth but also regionally and nationally as she now imparts her knowledge, skills and drive into the next generation.
Four years ago O’Brien established a netball umpires mentoring program in Tamworth.
The program is designed to not only get more practicing umpires on the courts, but to also prepare and qualify them to go up through the umpiring ranks to state and national level.
Those 12 mentees from that first year have now transformed into 50 registrations across three levels of the program this year ranging from the cadet program to the national C and D Badge programs.
“I really enjoy it and they enjoy the program too,” O’Brien said.
“You also learn a lot about the game which can really help as both a player or as a coach.”
“Without umpires there is no game and without players it is the same – it’s vice versa and one needs the other.”
For a person who now identifies the best volunteers in the town this award came with some embarrassment, but also a lot of pride.
“It was not expected but it was nice.”
“Sometimes volunteers get neglected and that is what I am doing now in the new role.”
“Netball in Tamworth is going really well at the moment.”
And what else would a selfless netball and officiating loving person reward herself with with the $150 Sportsmans Warehouse voucher that comes with the certificate.
“I am going to get new whistles for all the girls,” O’Brien said.
