Sport
3 July, 2023
Maryborough District Triathlon Club’s Jenny Barras secures Volunteer of the Year award
It was a big day of celebration for the Maryborough and District Triathlon Club last Saturday afternoon when club secretary Jenny Barras collected Triathlon Victoria’s Volunteer of the Year award. It is the first Triathlon Victoria award the club...
It was a big day of celebration for the Maryborough and District Triathlon Club last Saturday afternoon when club secretary Jenny Barras collected Triathlon Victoria’s Volunteer of the Year award.
It is the first Triathlon Victoria award the club has received in its history, with Barras rewarded for her work with the club, which has seen her hold the position of secretary for 12 years.
The awards ceremony was held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Saturday, June 24.
Barras beat out some high quality competition to win the award, with Melbourne Triathlon Club’s Greg Nugent, as well as Gillian Turnbull, also nominated for the award.
Barras was modest in accepting her award, but also stressed that it was a big moment for the club.
“It was a nice surprise,” she said.
“With the other finalists, they are from bigger clubs, and I thought I probably wouldn’t win it. But it was great when I heard my name read out.”
Barras said her achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the teamwork the club displays throughout the triathlon season, which runs from August through to the end of June.
“I also feel that when I received the trophy, it was a team effort. I’m glad the club has been recognised for the work that all of us do,” she said.
“It’s a team reward, as a lot of us put a lot of work and time into the club, and there’s a few of us that has been there from the beginning, and I feel like the award is recognition for all of us — not just me, there’s others that do a lot too. I was just lucky to have my name on the award this year.
“Martin Mark does so much for the club as well. It probably should have been a joint award. He’s helped me a lot with what he does, and helps me as secretary too.”
Barras’ time in the club has seen her transition from a competing athlete into secretary, but she still gets enjoyment out of seeing young athletes grow from their own start in the club.
“I used to compete myself, and I’ve transitioned into helping and being a volunteer and being secretary. I enjoyed the sport myself, but nowadays, it’s good watching people improve and doing personal bests. People come in, have a go and then get involved a bit more, and you get to watch their progression. It’s good to see,” she said.
Her work as secretary, alongside like-minded people who want the best for the club and to make it a welcoming environment, has seen people from all walks of life around the goldfields make the trek to Maryborough to compete regularly.
“We’ve been blessed to have people come in from Bendigo, Castlemaine, Newstead and even Stawell and Ararat. It’s a wider community that competes, and we attract people from other areas,” she said.
“People come and stay as we are a welcoming club, and we’re not overly huge. People can come and start their triathlon journey here among a smaller group, rather than a bigger group where you might not be seen. Many come in and enjoy it.”
Barras says that her plans from here revolve around ensuring the club can continue to thrive, looking towards a youth-driven future by continuing to implement creative ideas for recruitment.
“I will just keep doing what I’m doing, seeing what other changes can happen and trying to get new members into the club, and looking at new ways to attract new people too. We would love to encourage younger people into triathlon as well,” she said.
The triathlon season ended on Sunday, June 4, and Barras’ achievements, as well as those of the competing athletes, will be celebrated with the club champion-ship presentation dinner on Friday, July 14.