Tony Rudd of Lisarow was one of 19 sports volunteers state-wide who received a Distinguished Long Service Award at the 2022 NSW Community Sports Awards recently.
The Awards recognised outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in NSW which is largely carried out by a volunteer workforce.
Rudd has been a member of the Central Coast Rugby Union Referees Association (CCRURA) for over 35 years.
In that time, he has held various committee positions and contributed greatly to the association’s success through his enthusiasm on and off the field.
He is currently in his third year as President.
During his current term, he established a strategic plan, a scholarship program for school aged referees, and created Referee and Referee Coach Development Officer roles to expand the opportunities for others to develop their own skills.
Rudd refereed over 400 games for the association, including 13 First Grade Grand Finals from 1989-2001.
He refereed multiple times at NSW Country Championships and received appointments from NSW Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union.
He is a life member of CCRURA and of NSW Country Rugby Union Referee Association.
Sport NSW Chairperson, Carolyn Campbell said volunteers such as Rudd are the backbone of community sport in NSW.
“They are the dedicated, hard-working individuals who contribute countless hours to enable thousands of men and women, girls and boys, to enjoy the health and social benefits of community sport each weekend,” she said.
“They are the unsung heroes on which sports clubs and sports communities are built.
“Sport has been through massive challenges because of the pandemic, floods, and bushfires over the past few years, and it is because of the efforts of volunteers such as Tony that competitions have now resumed.”
The Awards also celebrated volunteers across nine categories for their outstanding achievements and excellence to sport in NSW over the past year.
The categories were Community Official of the Year, Young Official of the Year, Community Coach of the Year, Young Coach of the Year, Community Sports Administrator of the Year, Volunteer Director of the Year, Community Club of the Year, Local Council of the Year and Community Event of the Year.
Source:
Media release, Jul 1
Prism Strategic Communications