Volunteers are also important

Greetings to all our rugby league family and welcome to our 15th edition of Fulltime Reserve, a weekly column to discuss all matters rugby league in our favourite newspaper The National.
As our revised rugby league calendar gets back on track, we take this time to acknowledge our many selfless volunteers across Papua New Guinea who support the game at all levels.
Whilst the public and media attention is often on the players, hundreds of committed volunteers work diligently behind the scenes to support the game at all levels.
Our volunteers are the foundation of the sport, who ensure the continuous growth and development of our game. Without their selfless commitment, hard work and sacrifices, PNG rugby league would not be what it is today.
These volunteers range from our coaches, trainers, medical officers, referees, administrators, match officials and their families who support rugby league at all levels from the grassroots and offseason competitions to our sanctioned competitions from the juniors programmes to the leagues and onto our elite programmes such as the Digicel Cup, SP Hunters, PNG LNG Kumuls and the Oil Search PNG Orchids.
This week the PNG rugby league family again lost two committed and long-time volunteers of the sport with the passing of administrator Jack Kedea and technical official Andrew Stone.
Both man have contributed hugely to the development of the sport and have helped develop many young Papua New Guineans to have the opportunity to play the sport and fulfil their aspirations through the many opportunities the sport provides on and off the field.
There are many such committed servants of the game who make huge personal sacrifices and overcome insurmountable obstacles to support and promote the development of the game because of their passion for the sport and their belief in the code to provide better opportunities for our young people and have a positive impact in improving their communities.
The PNG Rugby Football League recognises that developing and accrediting our volunteers is essential to improving the standard of the game and as such over the last few years has invested in and joined forces with our international and domestic partners to tailor and implement programmes to up-skill them.
This is an investment that the sport will continue to do across PNG to ensure the growth of the game.
On behalf of PNGRFL, the sport and the many young Papua New Guineans whose lives you improve and provide opportunities for, we say thank you and pray that the Good Lord continues to bless each of you and your families.
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Until next week, may the grace, love and care of our Good Lord be with you.

Cheers,
Sandis