WATER POLO AUSTRALIA’S VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR MEGAN SUTHERLAND

This National Volunteers Week, Water Polo Australia is celebrating those who give so much to making our sport possible week in, week out and who are creating opportunities for participation at all levels. 

The Water Polo Australia 2023 Volunteer of the Year Megan Sutherland, was recently recognised at the WPA Awards Night for her significant contribution to community water polo in Newcastle. 

Megan, who volunteers as part of the ‘Fun Fit Program’ claimed two of the top honours, taking out the Volunteer of the Year and Program of the Year Awards. 

Fun Fit is a women’s only social, non-contact water polo program for which Megan is the Head Coach. Women aged 20 through to 75+ years, learn the fundamental skills of water polo and can go on to join a team and play competitive water polo or stay in the social participation space. 

Megan shared her thoughts on volunteering, her personal motivations and advice for those wanting to get involved. 

“I just wanted to see clubs, people and communities grow this sport, because it’s such an amazing sport for young and older people.

“When the program was brought to me, I saw there was an opportunity to help facilitate it. People think that water polo is a hard game to play, they’re correct. So we developed a place where women can come and try it out, not be under pressure and make new friends,” she said. 

Sport continues to provide a hub for communities to come together, regardless of background or abilities.  Volunteering is one way people can play a role, without being an elite athlete.

Megan’s advice to people thinking about getting involved is to simply put your hand up and ask.

“Just step up, say to people ‘Where do you need help and where can I help?’.

“There are so many things people can do…. You can say, I can help with social media, I can pump up balls, I can run ropes, I can mark out the field, I can put up the nets anything like that it all helps.

“In water polo, there are so many roles too! You don’t have to be in the pool playing, you can be a supporter, you can be a referee, an official timekeeper and a scorer.

“The young players see what you’re doing and they aspire to do that. When I was a child, I used to see all the adults and big kids doing it and now the tables have turned and now it's my chance to inspire the younger ones,” she said. 

In this day and age, people are often time poor and don’t have a lot of extra time to give.  But Megan says through volunteering, what you get back can be so rewarding. 

“It’s a real buzz! When you’re helping people to do things that they’ve never done before, for example when they’re struggling to tread water, and you teach them how to tread water… and they go away, try and try and come back weeks later and say ‘guess what, I can tread water!’

“Those little things make you feel really warm inside and you think I’ve done something to help somebody,” she said. 

This National Volunteers Week, be sure to thank your Club and local volunteers for making our sport possible.  Three cheers to volunteers!