It was appropriate that Kerry Halpin and Sharon Jolliffe received their Tamworth Touch Association life memberships together.
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The women and their families have intertwined touch football roots dating back many years.
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Last week the two friends played in the Halpin Plumbing side who won the mixed A-grade finale. They received their life memberships after the match.
Halpin and Jolliffe have received another honour together: the Leader's Unsung Sports Hero accolade.
Outside of their lengthy playing careers, they have worked tirelessly for the TTA as committee members, referees, representative cooordinators and managers.
"I'm the person in the background that does everything," said Halpin, a touch player since 1979.
Halpin was a member of the TTA committee from 1999 until last year. She began her association with the committee so she could facilitate a touch pathway from primary school to high school, as there was none at the time.
That benefited her three children, Stephanie, Rachel and Luke, as well as countless other children. Stephanie went on to play for Australia, while Rachel and Luke have also played state-level rep football.
One of the great thrills of Halpin's life was the "brilliant" sensation of playing on the same Halpin Plumbing side as her three kids and her husband, Matt.
"To have the whole family play on the one team, together for a couple of years, was just magical," she said, adding that she is "honoured" to be a life member.
Jolliffe began a behind-the-scenes role at TTA when her daughter, Stacy Smith, started playing the sport in 2002.
Jolliffe managed rep sides that her daughter was involved in. Smith is TTA's long-serving president.
"It's been fun - I've totally enjoyed it," Jolliffe said of her involvement in the sport.
