League: Volunteer's hard work recognised

Juanita Hool (left) is presented her Sport Maker Award by Sport Northland's Paul Cleary and Takahiwai's Lynn Freeman.

When Takahiwai Rugby League's Lynn Freeman put forth her Sport Maker nomination for one of the club's stalwarts, Juanita Hool, the justification was simple: "Without her, we are no more," Freeman's nomination read.

Therefore it's no surprise that Hool, a Takahiwai Rugby League club volunteer and Rugby League Northland board member, has found herself $2000 richer by becoming Northland's latest Sport Maker in the Sport Northland organised Sport New Zealand "Thank a Sport Maker Programme".

Nominated by her fellow club member Freeman, Juanita was described as the epitome of "Takahiwai Rugby League".

Hool's voluntary work includes cooking every Friday during the league season to feed the team, opposition, and supporters.

Her other pre-match roles include ensuring the jerseys are ready, strapping and massaging the players if required, and with help from her husband Shane, marking the fields prior to each home game. Along with these tasks she attends endless meetings and then, thanklessly, turns up every Sunday to clean the toilets and empty bins.

Hool also sources sponsors and funding to field two senior teams and junior teams, and organises the trophy nights and countless other events - all on a volunteer basis. Freeman also included in her nomination that "everyone is welcome at Takahiwai and I've never heard a negative comment from her mouth. She is an absolute champion and so deserving of this award".

"The Thank a Sport Maker programme is a great way to recognise volunteers like Juanita that make sport happen in Northland," Sport Northland community sport adviser Paul Cleary said. "It is quite easy to forsee that without volunteers like Juanita, clubs and sport in Northland would simply not exist. We know there are more volunteers out in the community and would like to see them nominated at lottovolunteers.co.nz"