Hockey stalwart Tracey Menegola wins prestigious Mike Stidwell Medal for years of Great Southern volunteering

Great Southern hockey stalwart Tracey Menegola declared “volunteering is the reward” after receiving the 2023 Mike Stidwell Medal for her tireless and unwavering volunteer work dedicated to the region. Menegola has been entrenched in the Great Southern hockey scene for decades and was presented with the prestigious sport volunteering honour at the annual awards ceremony held by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries at Retravision Stadium on Monday night. The award is held in honour of Mike Stidwell, who made constant selfless contributions to sport and recreation in the Great Southern region for many years. Nominated alongside six other finalists, Menegola was recognised after years of passionate volunteering in numerous long-term administrative roles for hockey, athletics and orienteering. The list of accomplished finalists included Great Southern Soccer Association registrar Nicola Harris, outgoing Albany and Districts Cricket Association president Ryan Kinnear, Great Southern Badminton Association president Donna Patterson and long-serving Albany Speedway Club volunteer Kevin Theyer, Katanning Netball Association’s Bridgette O’Neill and Rebecca Winter from Denmark Junior Soccer Association. Menegola’s long list of community involvements is highlighted by the integral role she played in merging Albany’s men’s and women’s hockey competitions into a single association and securing the installation of the first synthetic hockey turf in Albany. She said in her acceptance speech her hard-working values were instilled in her by her parents, which had provided her with years of rewarding work in the region. “I cannot stand here without acknowledging the influence of my parents who many knew were huge volunteers in their own right, multiple life members, huge community workers, and it was their work ethic that was my upbringing,” she said. “You don’t volunteer to get awards — volunteering is the reward. “We just have to give back to the community all the time and it has given me so many wonderful moments throughout the years, so many great friendships and I truly just encourage everyone to keep going there.” While admitting it was rewarding to accept the prestigious medal, a humble Menegola said it was important to recognise the work volunteers put in. “Any recognition of anyone doing extra work for the community is always a good thing,” she said. “It’s just a culture thing and it’s a part of your lifestyle and it’s just something you do; you try a new sport and you just end up being involved and if you want to make it better you’ve got to help make it better.” Great Southern hockey development officer Dinah Gordon nominated Menegola for the gong after witnessing first-hand the amount of work she puts in. “I thought she’d be a worthy nomination because she’s been a lifelong contributor from such a young age, so she started in the 1980s giving back through volunteering to the hockey association,” Gordon said. “In recent times she’s heavily involved with athletics as well as orienteering, so it’s not just one sport, it’s across quite a few. “Having been around her at hockey, I know that she does set really high standards for herself and the people around her. “She’s a great role model through volunteering but as a person in general.” The Great Southern Service to Sport Award was awarded to Alice Rule OAM after seven decades dedicated to sport within the region as a player, coach, official and administrator. She has been on the panel of the Albany Sportsperson of the Year awards since 1960. The Albany and Regional Volunteer Service held the awards ceremony in conjunction with National Volunteer Week. 2023 Mike Stidwell Medal finalists Nicola Harris (Great Southern Soccer Association) Donna Patterson (Great Southern Badminton Association) Ryan Kinnear (Albany and Districts Cricket Association) Kevin Theyer (Albany Speedway Club) Tracey Menegola (Lower Great Southern Hockey Association) Rebecca Winter (Denmark Junior Soccer Association) Bridgette O’Neill (Katanning Netball Association)