THE hardest thing about being a volunteer is sometimes letting go and stepping back from the role you’ve tied yourself to, Tony Barugh said.
The Augusta Margaret River Football Club long serving volunteer said slowing down was sometimes the most difficult element when you’ve been a part of something as long as he had.
However, getting people involved in their self built community was all part of the experience for Barugh as he encourages people to always put their hand up to be a part of the action.
“It becomes a great part of your life,” Barugh said.
Barugh has been involved with the club since 1997 when he volunteered to take over the downstairs change rooms from the former trainer, whom he affectionately calls ‘old nugget’.
The volunteering gene runs in the family, with Barugh’s father being a volunteer with the local rugby club when Barugh was growing up.
For Barugh it is not only the love of the game that drew him to the Hawks, but the want to give back to the community who invested in him as he played football growing up.
He said the people he met through the club had become lifelong friends.
“It’s about being part of a community,” he said.
Barugh said it was difficult to get volunteers due to people’s hectic weekend and work schedules.
The club usually has 20 to 30 volunteers every weekend, helping out the canteen, as managers and runners on field and the role of trainer such as Barugh.
When not volunteering with the club, Barugh believes in a healthy mind, healthy body approach to living, meaning every wakening moment is utilised.
He has been dabbling in the arts for more than 20 years, painting, writing poetry and capturing moments on and off the footy field with a camera to name a few.
If sporting blood runs through your veins, do you ever think it’s you that saves the game? When running from the centre with goals in your sights, is it ever you in your dreams that kicks it dead straight?
- The Australian Spirit, Tony Barugh
One of his paintings dubbed ‘The Australian Spirit’ with an accompanying poem is even on display in St John Ambulance headquarters.
Barugh believes volunteering is one of the foundations of the Australian spirit.
“It’s one per cent work, 99 per cent fun,” he said.
Club president Shane Payne said Barugh was involved in everything from training to the committee.
He said the club needed volunteers like Barugh to make sure it continued to run, as without them, the clubs would be non-existent.
“He’s a genuine, good bloke to have around the club,” Payne said.
Payne thanked the volunteers and the crowd who came out to support the team, particularly in their volunteer round match last weekend.
