The winners of the 2026 Wests Group Macarthur sport volunteer of the year awards were in a class of their own.
Gordon Costello, who was named adult volunteer of the year at last Saturday’s presentation dinner at Wests Leumeah, has been the heart and soul of Eschol Park Little Athletics Club For more than 35 years.
Just as impressive was the story of the youth volunteer of the year Grace Firth, who has made an extraordinary impact on Varroville Netball Club in record time.
However last Saturday night they had to share the limelight with the legendary Tony Norton, a founding father and life member of Wests League Club, who received an award for his remarkable commitment of more than 70 years to the Campbelltown City Kangaroos Rugby League Football Club.
Seven decades is an incredibly long time, and those present agreed, giving Mr Norton a standing ovation.
“It was an honour once again to recognise the incredible contributions of more than 100 outstanding sporting volunteers,’’ said Alan Buxton, chairman of Wests Group Macarthur.
“Together, this year’s recipients represented 128 decades of collective service to community sport – a priceless contribution to our region.
“We were thrilled to recognise our annual winners and their stories and to pay tribute to Tony Norton, a founding father and life member of Wests League Club for his remarkable commitment of more than 70 years to the Campbelltown City Kangaroos Rugby League Football Club,” Mr Buxton said.
Almost 350 guests attended the fifth annual Volunteer of the Year Awards in the Wests League Club auditorium.
The event brings together members of the Wests Sports Council, along with representatives of local sporting clubs and associations, to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of volunteers and the vital role they play in supporting and sustaining community sport.
The awards program welcomed long service submissions as well as an overall youth (under 21) and adult (21-plus) of the Year nominations and was open to more than 30 member clubs and associations of the Wests Sports Council.
They local sport to Macarthur via a network representing upwards of 42,000 athletes, administrators, and volunteers.
From February to April 2026, Wests Group received more than 100 nominations from a diverse range of codes including netball, hockey, rugby league, football, referees, and cricket.
Each service nominee received a commemorative service pin, certificate and gift from Wests Group Macarthur, with more than 120 nominations recognised across the 2026 awards program.
