Palmerston Crocs Ben and Selina Blyton voted Rugby Australia’s volunteers of the year

RUGBY Australia has awarded NT locals Ben and Selina Blyton the HSBC Volunteer of the Year award for their years of hard work at the Palmerston Crocs Rugby Union Club

Palmerston Crocs rugby union stalwarts Ben and Selina Blyton are Rugby Australia’s volunteers of the year.

RUGBY Australia has awarded NT locals Ben and Selina Blyton the HSBC Volunteer of the Year award for their years of hard work at the Palmerston Crocs Rugby Union Club.

Every year HSBC offers a grant of $10,000 to one rugby club in Australia and this year it was the Palmerston duo that won against volunteers from across the country.

“We were pretty surprised, it’s a big surprise to have won,” Ben told the NT News.

“It’s definitely exciting for us but it’s also a reward for all of the other volunteers at the club. “That’s the big thing, that club is run entirely by volunteers and they keep it going.”

Ben has worked with the club since 1984 and in that time has seen the club set up a permanent home in Palmerston and develop a strong youth program.

He has since become club president, a position he has held for around seven years. He will step down this year but will still offer his support to the club.

Along with other jobs Selina has worked as junior co-ordinator at the club helping build the future of the club.

They’ve been instrumental in securing grants from the NT Government to upgrade their clubhouse facilities and oval in Moulden.

“Grants from the NT Government have always been helpful,” Ben said.

“We’ve got such a great volunteer base who help with a lot of fundraising. We help clear up after the Darwin Show each year and do several Bunnings barbecues.”

Under their watch the club’s membership has grown by about 25 per cent and a Juniors 7s competition has been established.

“It’s great for a regional Territory club such as ours to get recognition on a national level,” Selina said.

“It’s great for us to show that good things are happening for rugby in the Territory.”

The pair have helped build a club culture worthy of winning the 2018 Good Sports Northern Territory Club of the Year.

A culture that has inspired many other club volunteers to give up their time to help out.

“The main thing for us is the help we get from all the volunteers, everyone puts in,” Ben said.

“There are many people who volunteer and without volunteers we wouldn’t have a sport to play, so thanks to all the volunteers.”