Veteran Football Volunteer Receives Community Honour Tuesday, March 7, 2023 - 4:20 PM

Long-time WA Football Volunteer Barry Nicholls has been named the City of Kalamunda’s Senior Community Citizen of the Year. 

Specialising as a sports trainer, first aid officer and co-ordinator, Nicholls’ work spans across two states and almost six decades.  

Over the past 8 years, Barry has supported the West Australian Football Commission and Metro Central Region Development Council with event First Aid support for the many competitions and participation programs within the community.  

Receiving the award stunned Nicholls, who maintains a busy on field schedule despite undergoing knee surgery recently.  

“I felt very shocked but privileged to receive the award. 

I did not know where it came from,” he said. 

WAFC (West Australian Football Commission) Head of Club Development and Volunteers, Corey Ranger was full of praise for the dedicated volunteer. 

“Barry is an exceptional human who gives selflessly of himself for the benefit of the community. 

Not only does Barry volunteer, but he also creates friendships and supports everyone around him in the process,” Ranger said.  

Over the course of his 47 years of volunteer service, he’s trained rugby league, touch football teams, Junior Australian Football teams and has been the First Aid officer for school carnivals across the Metro Central region.?  

Nicholls began his volunteering in NSW at the Canley Vale Rugby League Club in 1964 as club support before taking up a position as a sports trainer at Balmain Tigers Rugby League in 1987.  

While Nicholls was unable to play sport due to his job, the friendships and feeling of family between each sporting club is why he continues to volunteer to this day. 

“I never played much sport because my work did not permit me to get injured. 

It became a family thing for me, mixing with different people, it is a great community thing, and it is the people involved with the sports that kept me there,” he said. 

After moving to WA in 2015 Nicholls used his volunteering to meet new people and get involved with the Perth sporting community. 

His compassion and care have not been exclusive to the playing fields.  

In an excerpt from his award nomination, advocates said Barry has been known to coordinate the supply of fruit from local supermarkets for children at junior football events, has driven volunteers to and from work events and even helped club members move into their new home. 

The WA Football family congratulates Barry on receiving this prestigious volunteer honour.  

Photo/Story Credit: Echo News