Volunteer of the Year John Burnett
Geraldton’s John Burnett is Bowls WA’s Volunteer of the Year, receiving is award at the Bowls WA Awards Night on May 26. The Award was presented by Bowls Australia President Darryl Clout.
Volunteer of the Year is one of Bowls WA’s most important awards and his just recognition for Mr Burnett, who beat out several other deserving finalists to claim the award.
When he came up to accept the award Mr Burnett was somewhat shocked to have won.
He has a long history of volunteering in his original home of Three Springs and had looked forward to some time off when he moved to Geraldton over a decade ago, something he says didn’t exactly happen.
“I said to my wife when we moved to Geraldton ‘it’s going to be great to get to Geraldton, we won’t be on any committees or anything else’,” he said.
“That worked for about six months I think.
“I enjoy making a difference in a club, I think I have made a difference.
“I take a lot of pride in seeing the work we’ve done around the club and I’ll continue to do that.”
Mr Burnett has held a number of roles at Geraldton Bowling Club for extended periods of time including Director of Greens and Surrounds as well as club, league and zone selector.
He is also an integral part of maintaining the club and works to ensure the greens and club are kept in as good a condition as possible.
His commitment is such that when Geraldton’s greenkeeper was forced into taking five months off work through injury it was Mr Burnett himself who took personal charge over preparing the greens for that time.
Despite receiving a personal award, he couldn’t help but speak highly of his club.
“I’m so privileged to play for a very good club in Geraldton,” he said.
“We’re a very strong club, we’re a very dedicated club, we’ve had a lot of success and we’re run by some great people in our club.”
Congratulations to John Burnett on his well deserved recognition as Bowls WA Volunteer of the Year.
