The founder of the Macarthur Magic Special Needs Football Club and a young woman bursting with enthusiasm and generosity at Macarthur BMX have taken out the major honours at the 2025 Wests Sports Volunteer of the Year awards.
Kiara Dewhurst was named youth volunteer of the year, while Geoff Golden, pictured above, picked up the adult volunteer of the year award at Saturday night’s gala presentation dinner.
Almost 400 guests heard how Geoff Golden, a passionate and visionary community leader, founded the Macarthur Magic Special Needs Football Club in 2012 with one powerful goal: to give children and young adults with disabilities a fair go in sport.
What began as a dream to create space for inclusion has since grown into a movement that has touched hundreds of lives.
In 13 years, Macarthur Magic has flourished into one of the largest inclusive soccer clubs in Australia, now proudly serving more than 130 registered players, both boys and girls, from the age of 6 and up.
Countless Macarthur families of children with a disability are part of the extended Magic community, and it’s all because of Geoff Golden’s vision.
His unwavering dedication and leadership have broken down barriers, championed inclusion, and brought the joy of weekend sport to those who had previously been excluded.
Kiara Dewhurst, pictured at right, was an equally deserving winner of the youth volunteer of the year award.
A proud member of Macarthur BMX since 2018, she began her journey as an enthusiastic rider and has since evolved into an accredited coach and dedicated volunteer.
Her volunteer efforts began in 2021, lending a hand in the canteen. Kiara quickly became a reliable presence at club events, from selling raffle tickets to assisting with clean-up duties, and helping pack down after race nights.
Kiara’s enthusiasm, leadership, and generosity make her an invaluable member of the Macarthur BMX family.
Wests Group Macarthur, a long-time supporter and sponsor of sport in the region, proudly hosts the awards night to recognise and celebrate the enormous contribution of time and effort of sporting volunteers.
“It’s been such an honour once again to recognise the amazing contributions of more than 145 incredible volunteers – the largest number of nominations we have received,’’ said Alan Buxton, chairman of Wests Group Macarthur.
“We are committed to keep the light shining on the amazing work of our local volunteers.”
The awards night at Wests League Club, coincided with National Volunteer Week.
The awards program was once again open to 30 member clubs and associations of the Wests Sports Council, who deliver local sport to Macarthur via a network representing almost 35,000 athletes, administrators, and volunteers.
Each service nominee received a service pin, certificate, and gift from Wests. The youth and adult volunteers of the year received a cash prize, additional gift from Wests and a $500 hamper.
“Saturday’s event was all about recognising the wonderful individuals that our sporting clubs and associations can call on to enable athletes – young and old – to participate in sport at all levels,’’ says Daniel Perkiss, chief executive officer at Wests Group Macarthur.
“Recognising volunteers through this platform is just one of our investments towards the strength and sustainability of our sporting community.”
