MEMBERS of the West Rosebud Bowling and Croquet Club are ecstatic that Brian Richardson has been recognised with the 2021 Good Sports National Volunteer of the Year Award.
Club president Phil Brown said the award acknowledged the time and effort Mr Richardson had put into improving the club, whether it be in his more noticeable roles of maintaining the grounds, organising social bowls events, or working behind the bar.
“Behind the scenes Brian offers and has delivered so much more,” he said.
“Brian is always around the club, whether it be applying his initiative and skills to extend the life of items that would have otherwise become obsolete and ended up in landfill, or assisting with bowls programs designed for youth and all abilities in our community.”
Mr Richardson was crowned the Good Sports 2021 Volunteer of the Year for going above and beyond in contributing to a more supportive and family-friendly sporting environment for everyone at the club.
“Some volunteers are nominated for their years of involvement, or for the positions they may have held. And then there is Brian Richardson, undeniably the greatest clubman,” Mr Brown said.
“Brian is self-driven to improve the lives of others and always finds the time to engage with those who need a minute of his time.”
Mr Richardson, who is currently interstate on holiday, receives $750 for contributing to culture change from the ground up, but devotes more than 60 hours a week towards all aspects of running a good sports club – from grounds maintenance and organising game days, to supporting committee members with decision making around the club.
West Rosebud Bowling and Croquet Club is in its 63rd year and is one of the last remaining bowls and croquet clubs on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria that has retained grass greens.
Mr Brown said the grounds at the club were another attraction, with Brian to thank.
“He has created beautiful sustainable garden beds that are thriving on natural rainfall,” he said.
“Aging club members, many now living in residential care with minimal garden, sit for hours and admire them.”
During COVID-19 lockdown periods, the star club volunteer took on even more projects. He wasn’t able to access his usual gardens in the grounds, and so began to beautify the carpark area.
Mr Richardson proceeded to remove environmental weeds that had smothered indigenous vegetation. He set about building a collection of flora for this area, propagating plants, and germinating seeds, transplanting the more mature species into a gloriously mulched garden bed next to the entry.
He also took home garden signs and bench seats just before curfews began and repainted them.
“Brian’s hard work around the grounds of the West Rosebud Bowling and Croquet Club supports us in creating a more welcoming and safer environment for all members,” said Mr Brown.
“We get to see the incredible impact he has on the club every day and we’re so proud that others now get to see that too with this Good Sports Award’s Volunteer of the Year Award.”
Hosted by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation in Melbourne last month, the awards ceremony recognised Good Sports clubs and their volunteers from across the country who are passionate about community, their members and making their club the very best it can be.
Mr Richardson has donated his $750 prize money to have the club’s old ride-on mower repaired, if there is anything remaining from that it will go towards tip fees to dispose of green waste.
“We are extremely proud and grateful, as a not-for-profit community sporting club, to have a volunteer dedicate himself as much as Brian has been prepared to do since he joined our club,” Mr Brown said.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 19 April 2022
