For born and bred Castlemaine man Ken Maddern, ensuring there is a future for junior sports within his community is more than a weekend volunteer role, it’s one of his life passions.
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Mr Maddern has a background in cycling and has been involved with the sports community in Castlemaine for decades.
He has been announced as the Mount Alexander Shire finalist for the Sports Focus Administrator of the Year Award for his contribution to the Castlemaine District Netball Association.
“It’s great to know that people value what I do within the community,” Mr Maddern said.
“Junior participation is the grass roots of any sporting club.
“And if no one steps up and does the job, there’s no where for the kids to play sport.”
The Sports Focus Administrator of the Year award acknowledges the contributions which volunteer administrators make to the sport and recreation sector.
“Castlemaine might be a small place, but there are plenty of kids that want to play sport,” he said.
Mr Maddern is the current president of the CDNA, the Wesley Hill Outdoor Facilities Committee of Management, and is a committee member of the Castlemaine Cycling Club.
In his time as president of the CDNA he has been a driving force behind years of lobbying and consultation meetings which secured funding for the upgrade to the Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve sports facility.
The upgrade included the addition of six new netball courts and the commencement of the next stage of development which involves a new pavilion that will benefit multiple sporting clubs that utilise the facilities.
Members of the Castlemaine community admire his commitment to his roles, and they are delighted to see him recognised for his service to sport and achieving the best for the district.
Mr Maddern said it was “more than likely” he would be involved with community sport in Castlemaine for many years to come.
There are six finalists, each representing local government authorities serviced by Sports Focus.
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