“I JUST love rugby. The more kids playing sport the better.”
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Every club needs them, and the Orange City Junior Rugby Union club has one of the best in Penny Fisher.
The devout volunteer has been giving up countless hours every winter for the last four years, helping both the junior Lions and the Central West Junior Rugby Union in secretary and registrar roles respectively.
And for those efforts, Fisher has been nominated for the 2014 HSBC Volunteer of the Year, an Australian Rugby Union initiative to recognise the efforts and skills of people who have contributed to the development, promotion and advancement of rugby union within Australia.
“Humbled” and “chuffed” by the nomination,” Fisher said she became involved in the sport when her boys started playing at Orange City.
“I feel very honoured that someone has thought enough of me to nominate me for something like this. I’m just a mum trying to help out,” she said.
As registrar of Central West Junior Rugby Union, Fisher helps organise representative teams from under 12s through to under 18s early in the season before preparation for semi-finals in August and September ensures the end of the season is just as busy.
“It’s a busy time of the year at the moment,” she added.
Orange City’s Peter Stewart says Fisher is “a non-stop rugby worker”.
“The reason I nominated here was because she lives and breathes the game,” Stewart said.
“She’s primarily passionate about the game, the kids and the club.
“Penny does an enormous amount of work for both Orange City and Central West. She’s always approachable.”
Now in its 11th year, the 2014 HSBC Volunteer of the Year will be hosted at the John Eales Medal in October, with the winner announced on the night.
“Volunteers play a huge part in keeping local clubs and their players engaged. The HSBC Volunteer of the Year program is one way we can acknowledge the people who have dedicated their lives to Rugby in their communities, “Andrew Larratt, general manager of rugby participation at the ARU, said.