MUSWELLBROOK and District Junior Rugby League's Bianca Johnston has been recognised for her contribution to the sport at the Holiday Inn Potts Point CRL Community Awards on Saturday night.
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The hard-working coordinator, representing the Greater Northern Region, snared the Women in League title at the gala presentation function.
Johnston's "labour of love" is one of the main reasons women's rugby league is available in Group 21.
She urged Muswellbrook to join the CRL 9's competition in 2016, house the Group 21 winter competition team in 2017 and single-handedly filled the teams, found coaches, managers, trainers and signed them up for the correct courses.
"Girls at the Muswellbrook club have started to participate in rugby league earlier because Bianca kicked off women's tackle teams," CRL chairman John Anderson said.
"And, they will have an avenue to continue playing.
"From Monday to Thursday, Bianca is at every training session for her girls' teams, attends league tag games on Friday night and tackle on Saturdays."
Thomas "George" Hickey (Dudley Redhead Magpies Junior Rugby League) and Tathra Sea Eagles Rugby League Club were named CRL's Volunteer and Club of the Year, respectively, for the 2019 season.
Hickey is a Life Member of both Dudley Redhead JRLFC and Newcastle Rugby League for his 36 years of service in various volunteer and administrative roles.
He's held positions such as team manager, secretary, board member and chairman and his commitment was further recognised in 2018 when he received a CRL pin for his service.
The Dudley Redhead Magpies JRLFC have had Hickey manage some of their major projects, which has allowed the club to grow into one of the regions' most nurturing and welcoming football clubs, resulting in the organisation winning CRL Club of the Year in 2017.
Through political lobbying and seeking grants, he's overseen the redevelopment of the playing surface and the introduction of a mini field for the under-6s and under-7s.
In 2018, Tathra Seniors had just re-joined the competition for the first time in four years with a reserve grade and league tag team.
Just as the comp was about to start, the town was devastated by a major bushfire that destroyed more than 70 homes and was declared a National Emergency.
Amazingly, the community gained strength from the bushfire that saw the junior and senior rugby league clubs unite.
As the 2019 season approached and the town was starting to rebuild, there was an influx of construction and trade jobs that boosted employment in the Tathra area.
This enabled many young people that had moved away to return home because they were able to find work, many reconstructing their own families' homes.
This allowed Tathra to field first grade, reserves and league tag teams this season.
In 2019, the junior club proudly boasts a team in every male and female age group, despite the town having less than 1500 residents.
Anderson praised the work of not only the nominees on the night, but the thousands of CRL volunteers across the state.
"The Holiday Inn CRL Community Awards are a great opportunity for us to thank some of the amazing people who dedicate their time to rugby league across regional NSW," he said.
"You cannot put a value on the work volunteers do because they are truly priceless to their local communities.
"Being nominated as an outstanding contributor in your region is a special achievement and all of our nominees can be extremely proud of their efforts."
All winners will progress to the 2019 NRL Community Awards.
