Kiama Knights Junior Rugby League Club (JRLC) President Carl Middleton has been awarded the South Coast Volunteer of the Year award by NSW Rugby League.

The 2024 NSW Rugby League Community Awards took place on July 29 acknowledging the vital contribution made to the game every season by more than 31,000 volunteers across the state.

Of the more than 700 clubs in NSW, 18 volunteers’ efforts were highlighted and Middleton says he is honoured to be recognised. “I’m very humbled by it because I do know the amount of work that a lot of people do in junior rugby league. There’s a hell of a lot of volunteers and it's a very strong group of people who are involved so it's extremely humbling to receive the award,” he said.

Since Middleton became President in 2018, the registered players for the junior Knights has risen from 178 to 496 and Kiama JRLC Secretary Kristie Laird says that this is very much as a result of Middleton’s impact.

“He has been an instrumental member of our Committee for more than 12 years, and as President he has led a number of initiatives both on and off the field which have resulted in our Club becoming one of the biggest Clubs in Group 7 and the Illawarra,” says Laird.

Middleton says he is unable to quantify the amount of hours that he and others donate to the club, but says “it is all worth it in the end”.

“I think there's a lot of people out there who have just got a willingness to help and assist other people and, in this case, help young kids in junior rugby league. I spend countless amounts of time on the phone and doing things, but it’s something I enjoy doing and it's something where, if you didn't enjoy doing it you wouldn’t do it,” says Middleton.

And Middleton says his main joy comes from watching everyone enjoy their rugby league on a weekend and hopes that from his work, kids will be able to have happy memories of playing footy in Kiama.

“Just seeing the smiles on the kids' faces, seeing their mothers, fathers, extended family, siblings having a good time at the footy on the weekend. You just want the kids to be in a position where they can enjoy their footy,” says Middleton.

Other than being President, Laird says that Middleton has a lot of other roles within the club.  “He has given his time to coach a number of teams, is a qualified level 1 Sports Trainer, Vice President of the Kiama Senior Knights and is everyone’s favourite ground manager with pump-up music blaring at Chittick Oval. This award is certainly a fitting reflection of his Club-first approach,” says Laird.