IN REGIONAL NSW and all over the state, sporting clubs are facing extinction because volunteers are often unwilling to take on the sometimes large work load of becoming a committee member.
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Often it’s a few key club members – mostly parents or grandparents of players – who are doing the job of many and trying to keep the club alive. This often leaves little time to plan for the future.
Unfortunately, Nambucca Heads Cricket Club is potentially facing the same fate as many before them, despite having no financial issues and having highly successful track records across all age groups in junior and senior competitions.
Just two willing locals are doing everything they can to keep the club up and running.
“We really don’t need much to keep us going,” current Nambucca Heads Cricket Club’s under 12s coach, and one of the two members fighting for the club’s future, Peter Lee told the Guardian.
“In a town as proud as this, with such a rich cricket history, with several minor premierships and premierships under its belt … it’s sad to see this happen.
“We just need some more volunteers to help out.”
Peter understands the workload is too much for some, however despite working full time, coaching a junior cricket team and taking his son Harrison to a number of sporting commitments – he manages to find the time to help out.
“I enjoy training the kids and I see how happy it makes them,” he said.
“There’s either a lack of interest in cricket, our club or the volunteer work – I don’t know what it is … but it’s killing us.
“I can’t help but think it’s me – I’m questioning my own involvement.
“I remember all we ever did was play cricket – I played 30 seasons of cricket and used to walk the sides just trying to get a hit, now, you can show up and be guaranteed a run-on … things are changing, and not for the better in my opinion.”
It’s a devastating revelation which comes just days after the National Cricket Census revealed that cricket is Australia's current number one participation sport after record numbers picked up a bat and ball in 2015-16.
Peter will hold a sign-on day at Coronation Park next to the club rooms on Saturday, September 10 between 10am and midday for all interested players (12s, 14s and seniors), volunteers, coaches, umpires … “anybody who loves a game of cricket or who wants to see the club flourish like it once did”.
“The coaches who volunteer – we’re happy to put them through courses.
“I just want to make sure the kids get on the park and get off their PlayStations and iPads.”
