#NVW2022 - You cannot underestimate the role of volunteers, says Alice Luscombe

Many volunteers start their journey as adults, following their children and supporting them as they start playing sports in school, or pursuing an athletic career at their local club.

Bunbury Water Polo Association’s President Alice Luscombe flipped that blueprint on its head, following her mum’s lead to become a volunteer at a very young age and showing that volunteering truly is an activity for all.

“My mum started playing water polo just after I was born,” Alice said.

“She made the WA State Country sides pretty quickly and then she got even more involved, starting a little water polo club in Harvey, WA on Friday nights. So when I was eight I was basically playing Flippa Ball and then turning sausages at the sausage sizzle. Mum always led by example,” she said.

Inspired by a positive role model and fueled by her passion for the sport, Alice became a Flippa Ball coaching assistant and achieved her level-1 refereeing accreditation by the time she was in high school.

She then continued playing water polo but also joined the Bunbury Water Polo committee, taking on a secretary role soon after graduating from university and becoming President of the club in 2015, only the second woman ever to take on the role.

Fast forward to the present, and Alice is one of the volunteers nominated for the 2022 Water Polo Australia Volunteer of the Year award, which recognises the outstanding contribution made by volunteers to support their clubs and the sport at grassroots level.

“Our club is relatively small, but it really feels like family,” she said. “We are all trying to keep water polo going in a regional setting and I am really proud to be a part of it and be able to contribute to it.”

As National Volunteer Week is in full swing, many activities are being organised around the country to recognise and celebrate over three million Australians who every year donate their time to the community, supporting sport and physical activity and playing a crucial role in keeping clubs running.

“You cannot underestimate the role of volunteers and the older I get, the more I realise that,” added Alice, who strives to ensure her club maintains a positive environment where people that want to contribute their talents are empowered to do so, and are appreciated as they deserve.

“Without volunteers we wouldn't have water polo in the South West, that’s for sure. So being able to create an environment where everybody’s different skill set can be put to work in a way that’s helpful to the club is really important,” she said.

That includes facilitating the process of welcoming new volunteers to the club, making it easier for those people who would like to get involved, but are maybe scared of the commitment, to be introduced into the club community feeling safe and supported.

“Getting to know the people that you’re volunteering with is always the best way to start,” Alice said. “You’ll get to know a fantastic network of people who are really dedicated and passionate about what they’re doing.”

Alice agreed that initiatives like National Volunteer Week can contribute to attracting new volunteers, but they are especially important to celebrate the volunteers who give so much back to Australian sport.

“Volunteers take time from their families, from their work, from their downtime. They sacrifice a lot and they don’t do it for the accolades or ask for appreciation.

“Most of them just stick their head down and get on with the work, so it’s nice to recognise them somehow and acknowledge the effort that people go to.”

That statement holds true for Alice as well, of course. Back in Bunbury, club and committee members were keen to nominate her for the award, as a way to recognise the passion Alice puts into trying to grow the club and furthering regional water polo. People described her as the “heart and soul of the club” and praised her inspiring, selfless commitment to the community.

Alice said she was very touched by the nomination, especially because it came directly from her peers.

“I am just trying to put back into a sport that's given me a lot,” she explained. “Growing up, water polo was such a huge part of my life and being able to contribute to giving other people that same experience is really important.

“[Being nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award] is really humbling. It’s really a big honour to be held in such high esteem by people that I hold in high esteem,” she said.

National Volunteer Week continues until Sunday, so don’t miss the chance to celebrate and recognise the vital work of our amazing volunteers and to say thank you for their contribution.