Not only has the CYMS JRLFC secretary taken on a massive role at the club over the last five years, she's been presented with the unprecedented challenge of running the green and golds under the cloud of COVID-19.

Clarke described the 2020 winter as "10 seasons jammed into one", but says it's only a small price to pay.

"It's a huge commitment, but to do what we do for the kids each week makes it all worth it," Clarke said.

"It would be the same for every outdoor sporting club who had to put in the protocols we had to."

The Leeton product moved to Orange via Parkes five years ago, and since she's been in the role, player numbers at Norton Park have almost doubled.

"When I came into the club, we had 250 kids, now we've got 460," she said.

"We've also had league tag established over that time, and it's up to a competition now.

"To see all of that happen makes every minute worth it."

Clarke is one of many volunteers who does enormous amounts of thankless work for her club, and the role has only become harder in recent times.

Orange has been underwater this season as fields are being closed left, right and centre.

"Over the last few weeks there hasn't been much sleep at all for me," she said.

"But, that's the same as every other club. It's one of the wettest winters we've seen."

While she's very invested in the role, Clarke is beginning to speculate about the future and knows when her 14-year-old son Isaac moves on from the junior ranks she might not be as compelled to stick around.

"We love being a part of things," she said.

"So, whether it's senior, junior or group level, we'll be there in some shape or form for years to come."

As for the relatively unsung nature of volunteering roles within a sports club, Clarke spoke about how crucial these types of positions are.

"People just think that everything happens on its own," she said.

"Whether it's a club or a workplace, there's usually someone who's steering the ship. You need to have someone making sure everything's happening.

"I'm really lucky, though. I've got a great committee around me and my husband, Wayne is the coaching coordinator, he's a huge part of the club as well."

Clarke has taken on the head coaching role at the new-look Vipers under-12s side for the looming Western Women's Rugby League competition, set to kick-off in the spring.

Another curve ball COVID has delivered the club comes in the way of merchandise deliveries as a lot of the gear ordered in the pre-season still hasn't arrived.

"We've got two weeks left in the season and we haven't got any merchandise yet," she said.

"And, now we're in lock down so who even knows if we'll get to finish the season yet."

As it stands, CYMS juniors will be able to return to the training paddock on July 28.

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