COACHING - Northland sport codes honour `unsung heroes'

Northland's volunteer coaches were honoured for being the "unsung heroes of sport" and the best were rewarded with a year's supply of baked beans at a prizegiving ceremony yesterday.
There are more than 500,000 volunteer coaches working in New Zealand, and Tama Jones, the Sport Northland Coachforce team leader, said volunteer coaches played an essential role in keeping people active.
The Wattie's Volunteer Coach of the Year regional ceremony was also a chance for Sport Northland to advocate the need for more coaches and promote training opportunities.
"Although coaching may sometimes seem like a thankless task, it's very valuable and benefits so many.
"Sports coaches enable Northlanders to be active and enjoy interacting with others through sport," said Mr Jones.
Sport Northland judges had the difficult task of selecting just four winners from the 83 Northland nominations.
Gymnastics coach David Braybrook, from Kaitaia, scooped the best student award and was described by the athletes and children he trains as fun, encouraging and a good role model.
The best newcomer accolade went to Kaiwaka gymnastics coach Paula Jaques, who is a "significant asset to the Otamatea community".
She single-handedly raised $50,000 to buy equipment and kept gymnastics up and running after the group had to find new premises.
Paula's nominators said ``her smile is contagious and she is generally just a really nice person to be around'.
The general prize went to Anne Stillwell, from Kaikohe, who volunteers her time at netball and swimming clubs as well as school netball and touch teams.
The audience was told that Anne is not only a great coach, but also attends meetings, helps with fundraising, encourages parents, provides first aid and also assists with transport.
Anne, who had great family support in the audience, said she was really pleased to have her efforts recognised.
"I work with lovely people and have a lot of support and enjoy what I do. I'm very grateful for this award."
The prestigious lifetime achievement award went to James Lawrence from Kaikohe who is said to coach "anything he can think of". It was said that if Mr Lawrence, who was unwell and unable to attend the ceremony, ever left Kaikohe, so would the majority of sport in the community. He plays a hand in coaching football, netball, badminton, basketball, athletics and triathlon.
One of the winners of the regional Wattie's Volunteer Coach of the Year Awards 2007 will now be chosen to represent Northland at the national ceremony next month. Last year's Northland winner, Taipa schoolteacher Alfred Welsh, went on to earn the national voluntary coach award.