By Matilda McDermott
David Kearsley, a volunteer for Knox Little Athletics, has been honoured for his dedication after winning the Vicsport Volunteer of the Year award at the 2024 Victorian Sports Awards (VSA’s).
At Knox Little Athletics, Mr Kearsley does it all, performing 12 roles. From President, to competition director, photographer and website manager, the work Mr Kearsley does definitely doesn’t go unnoticed.
On May 14 the award was a part of the 18 that were presented at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, covering all areas of sport from coaches, athletes, teams to volunteers like Mr Kearsley.
While attending the awards night, Mr Kearsley said that the event was unlike anything he’s been to before.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever been to anything like that… I think it was a really great atmosphere in the room. It was a pretty slick event,” said Mr Kearsley.
“Everyone’s there to recognise sport in general, so it’s certainly an enjoyable night.”
It’s because of Mr Kearsley’s dedication to Knox Little Aths, that training, competitions, facility maintenance and event-coordination all ran smoothly.
When asked about winning the award Mr Kearsley humbly said that it wasn’t about the recognition.
“You obviously don’t do the volunteering roles that we all do, whether that’s me in Athletics or any of the other volunteers in sport, we don’t do it particularly for the recognition, it’s a bit surreal,” said Mr Kearsley
Mr Kearsley then went on to express gratitude for the people in his life who helped him behind the scenes.
“It’s nice to be recognised, It’s really an award that not only recognised not only me individually, but all the people that helped me out last year, the committees, certainly my wife, even my employer, that gives me the opportunity to volunteer in these roles.”
Mr Kearsley was an athlete in his teenage years and returned to help out in the sport when his kids started in Little Aths, where he said that running kids sport without volunteers would be hard.
“It’s one of those things where it’s a kids sport, it doesn’t operate without its volunteers.”
“I’m putting back into the sport that I got a lot out of when I was a kid and making sure that the kids can keep having the same opportunities that I had,” said Mr Kearlsey.
When asked why he picked up volunteering for Little Aths, Mr Kearlsey responded that it’s just part of helping the community and ensuring kids can have the same opportunities he had in his time as an athlete.
“Just do good, because you can. It’s just part of helping out the community. It’s important that first and foremost the kids get the opportunity that they deserve, so they can excel.”
As a volunteer, Mr Kearlsey describes the experience as rewarding, and encourages anyone who is interested in volunteering to try it for themselves.
“I think anyone that wants to volunteer should have a go. Connecting with a community particularly if it’s a sport you enjoy, and you’ve got the opportunity to volunteer and help the sport out, then have a go at it,” said Mr Kearlsey.
Athletics has also been a hot topic, with many Australian athletes being successful on the world stage, which Mr Kearsley said would increase involvement in Australian athletics.
“We’ve got a really good opportunity over the next few years, as lot’s of Australian Athletes are doing well overseas at the moment from an athletics point of view.”
“To see the sport go through a little bit of resurgence at the moment, and kids much more interested in athletics. I think we’ve got a really good opportunity to grow athletics in and around Knox,” said Mr Kearlsey.
Mr Kearlsey then finished with the importance of kids participating in local sport.
“If we can continue the tradition of having really good athletic sports programs, I think that’s beneficial to get the kids outside and running.”
Some of the other recipients from the Victorian Sports Awards included Cyclist Kelland O’Brien who won Gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024 as well as Grace Brown who also clinched a Gold Medal for Australia at the 2024 Olympics.
