he 12th annual New South Wales Touch Association State Awards were held at the Bankstown Sports Club on the 13th of October. The Gala Blues Dinner where these awards are handed out is the most important night of the NSWTA Calendar. It is a night where the Association gets to recognise excellence within all aspects of our sport and organisation. The NSWTA night of nights is positioned in the midst of the State Conference, and once again the night did not disappoint. The Rod Wise Medal (Volunteer of the Year) always carries the highest honour for the evening. This year’s award was presented to Central Coast Touch Associations very deserving John Turnbull. John has been contributing Central Coast Touch for over 30 years and has been a state graded referee since 2005. John is a long-standing volunteer and is incredibly dedicated to Central Coast Touch, The Hunter Western Hornets region and to New South Wales Touch Football as a whole. He is currently a Level 6 referee and has officiated a number of NSW Touch Football All School events, along with delivering high quality referee courses for his affiliate, and within his region. The award came as a surprise and John was extremely humbled by this acknowledgement. “This is certainly an accolade I wasn’t expecting and I am so grateful to New South Wales Touch Football, Central Coast Touch Football and my Region for the constant support,” John said. “From here I think I will continue doing what I do best and that is helping out my club, region and state in all things Touch Football.” It was Johns second gong for the evening having early taken out the Affiliate Referee Director of the Year Award. Other highlights of the glittering evening included Graham Knights taking home the President of the Year Award, Northern Beaches Renegades Georgia Randell being named Administrator of the Year, Manly winning their 4th consecutive Affiliates of the Year and young Grace Quinn of Mudgee being named Youth Leader of the Year. On field achievements were also recognised with Eastern Suburbs Ash Quinlan and Penrith’s Nick Good taking home the Female and Male Player of the Year Award. While Tony Trad cracked it for the Coach of the Years, his third in an illustrious coaching career. T 2017/18 AWARD WINNERS AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR State Winner: Manly Warringah Touch Association Southern Suns Affiliate of the Year: Wollongong Touch Association Sydney Rebels Affiliate of the Year: Bankstown Sports Touch Association Sydney Mets Affiliate of the Year: Balmain Juniors Touch Association Sydney Scorpions Affiliate of the Year: Manly Warringah Touch Association Hunter Western Hornets Affiliate of the Year: City of Orange Touch Association Northern Eagles Affiliate of the Year: Murwillumbah Touch Association ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR State Winner: - Georgia Randall – Northern Beaches Touch Association Southern Suns Administrator of the Year: Tim Robinson – Wollongong Touch Association Sydney Rebels Administrator of the Year: Nathan Loveday – Bankstown Sports Touhc Association Sydney Mets Administrator of the Year: Aida Catalano – Western Suburbs Touch Association Sydney Scorpions Administrator of the Year: Georgia Randall – Northern Beaches Touch Association Hunter Western Hornets Administrator of the Year: Melinda Walls – Maitland Touch Association Northern Eagles Administrator of the Year: Kendall Stirrat -- Macksville Touch Association NSWTA AWARDS I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ROD WISE MEDAL (Volunteer of the Year) John Turnbull – Central Coast Touch Association NOMINEES: John Turnbull – Central Coast Touch Association Phil Rainger – Taree Touch Association Georgia Randall – Northern Beaches Touch Association Melinda Walls – Maitland Touch Football Association Joel Begnell – City of Orange Touch Association Tony Webb – Ballina Touch Association Les Bouveng – Sydney Rebels 14 | Keeping In Touch 2018