Volunteers form the backbone of sport and recreation in New Zealand. Please join SPARC in saying a huge thanks to your volunteers.
Meet our Volunteers
Each of these volunteers has had a major impact on their sports, clubs, and sports stars in a variety of ways. We thank them for the fabulous work they continue to do.
Barry Cleal
Barry Cleal was one of Hamish Carter’s rowing coaches at Auckland Rowing Club and Auckland Grammar from 1984 to 1991.
Barry has had many years of involvement with club rowing, encouraging and fostering new coaches into rowing as well as helping develop the talents of numerous rowers.
Keren Priscott
Keren was Laura Langman's coach when she was at Hillcrest High School in Hamilton.
She still coaches at the school and runs netball camps for the team.
Rocky Hall
Cory Hutchings’ volunteer Rocky, has had a huge influence in the Surf Life Saving community in Gisborne.
He trained and mentored Cory for years and continues to nurture the sport today.
Jenni Brewer
Jenni Brewer was Adine Wilson’s netball coach when she was at school. She’s still very actively involved in coaching and her community.
Vasa Solomana
Vasa Solomana is Neemia Tialata’s uncle and has been an all-round helper in his rugby career, especially in his under 16s days.
Vasa has been a mentor, trainer, coach and advisor to Neemia.
Les McFadden
Greg Somerville's volunteer Les McFadden has been a Canterbury Rugby Union supporter for many years. He does a lot of rugby liaison volunteering and he looks after visiting teams when they come to town.
He has been volunteering since the 1970’s receiving a QSM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006. Les is also a Special Life Member of the Belfast Rugby Club.
Bill Kennedy
Bill Kennedy is the ultimate sports volunteer and he has been involved with basketball for an astonishing 63 years. He has played, coached, refereed, and driven teams to games - just to name a few of his volunteering roles.
He still lives in Greymouth and is very involved in basketball. He recently took on a coaching role for a team of senior women playing in the local B Grade . . . at the age of 78!