Honours for our Helene
BY ALEX TIGANI
Local cricket stalwart Helene Goadsby has been recognised with two distinguished honours this month.
The Singleton District Cricket Association’s secretary was announced as a life member of the Hunter Valley Cricket Council on Sunday, August 2.
Only five days later, she was then announced as one of the 21 volunteers across the state to receive the Sports NSW Distinguished Long Service Award.
“30 years of service is an outstanding recognition in any volunteer person’s life and she is the only recipient for cricket in all of NSW,” Gary Fisher (Cricket NSW) told The Hunter River Times.
“We felt her 30 years of service in the Hunter Valley was worthy of nomination and she’s had some Central North involvement as well.”
She admits she was surprised with the award.
“Gary sent me an email I opened up on Thursday and there were all these headings with all these messages, and I thought ‘this was interesting’,” she recalled.
“Thankfully, I opened Gary’s email first and it was a very pleasant surprise.”
Goadsby’s local cricket journey commenced in 1988 as a junior parent for her (then) junior son Aaron.
In years past she was also named as a life member for her club Valley as well as the Singleton District Cricket Association (presented in 2018).
The stalwart was also presented with the Contribution to Sport honour at the Singleton Sports Star Awards in 2016.
“I was also a life member of the Howe Park Tennis Club but that’s another story,” she playfully concluded.
MEANWHILE PCH talent Jake Daniels and Glendon leader Max Willis were announced as new members of the SDCA executive at the association’s AGM on Tuesday evening.
The gathering featured a lengthy discussion about the future of the John Bull Shield competition while a new first grade umpire has also been revealed.