Darrin Lewis.
THE Sports Person of the year is a highly sought-after award within the community with this year’s honour going to Darrin Lewis, a man who is heavily involved in the administrative side of sport.
Darrin was described as someone who has extended the sporting life of Wingham, which has a healthy and significant sporting heritage with community members participating in a wide variety of sporting activities.
He is a representative on the Greater Taree Sports Council and is the president of the Wingham branch of that committee.
The Wingham Sporting Complex management committee is made up of representatives of each sporting group that uses the facility.
Since the committee was formed several years ago he has been its only president.
Over the years of his involvement in the committee he has been responsible for obtaining many grants to develop the complex and has worked with council to improve the area.
Some of the committee’s major achievements have been the upgrade of the lighting system, levelling and improving the playing fields and making renovations to the main field.
Currently he is involved in the redevelopment of the velodrome to cater to junior playing fields.
“His task has often been thankless as he battles the various sporting groups and council itself to achieve the best outcomes for the overall users of the facility,” Rotary’s president, Robert Walsh said as he awarded Darrin at the Australia Day ceremony.
Aside from his involvement in this council Darrin has been the president of Wingham Touch for many years and is vice president of Wingham Junior League.
Darrin grew up in Wingham playing junior and senior Rugby League as well as touch football for more than 20 years.
Darrin’s role in the administration side of sport started years ago. In his early twenties he suffered a knee injury which prevented him playing football, so begun to show an interest in a committee role as a players’ representative on the Wingham Tigers Senior Rugby League committee.
“It allowed me to still get my sporting fix,” he said.
Through his executive roles on local sports committees, he commits up to 10 hours per week outside his full time sales job at Lauders Real Estate.
Darrin was asked to the ceremony on the pretext to represent the Wingham Sports Complex Management Committee, so was surprised when his name was announced.
He thanked Rotary and the community for their recognition and said the best part for him is sitting back and seeing people enjoy the facilities and upgrades at Wingham Sporting Complex.
