She prefers to be in the background, quietly going about her business and never looking for any

accolades.

Unfortunately for Helen, she had nowhere to hide yesterday as she was announced as the recipient of the 2010 Australia Day Sportsperson of the Year.

It was her time to take centre stage and be

recognised for the wonderful role she has played in the promotion of sport in this town.

She may not be an elite athlete as many of the

recipients before her have been, however her

contribution to the sporting fabric of Cootamundra can not be questioned.

Having taken over the reins of Sports Stadium

manager in 1999 for the privately owned company Spider Network, Helen became an employee of the Cootamundra Shire Council two years later when they took control of the purpose built building.

Throughout her tenure at the Stadium, Helen has always put the sporting interests of Cootamundra first.

She has reinvigorated and reinvented a number of sports played at the Stadium and has a deep rooted passion for basketball,having played a leading hand in the resurgence of the Cootamundra Cougars junior teams.

With the Stadium the hub of the annual Sports Leadership Foundation camp, it was only natural Helen would throw her energy into a program that is not only unique in that it brings together teenager from around the region who have been identified as

potential leaders by their peers, but one that leaves participants, guest athletes and program deliverers all richer for the experience.

Having obtained her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from the NSW Department of Sport, she almost single handedly re-wrote the program for last year’s course and her attention to detail made the 2009 camp one of the most enjoyable on record.

Through her water aerobics and lifeball classes Helen has a special affinity with the ‘elder’ citizens of Cootamundra and the numbers she attracts to the pool for her early morning sessions is testament to her

ability as an instructor, confidant and friend.

“I love what I do and I do learn a lot, especially from the ‘oldies’,” Helen said in accepting her award.

“I’m just really pleased to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they excel and realise how much they have improved on where they started.”