Rewarding work for Squash ACT volunteers

National Volunteers Week (NVW) is the largest annual celebration of volunteers in Australia with the 2021 theme of ‘wave for a volunteer’ designed to recognise, reconnect and reimagine how we support our volunteers.

When it comes to volunteering, sports like squash rely on those who selflessly give up their time week in and week out to form vital roles at clubs and competitions.

Squash ACT is run solely by a team of committed volunteers who are always working hard to provide the best possible squash experience for their members.

Squash ACT President Michael Nuttall is one of those volunteers, Nuttall played squash throughout his school years and returned to squash after a ten year break to play his first competition squash match as he turned fifty.  

After moving to working part-time, volunteering became an opportunity Nuttall seized by joining the Squash ACT board in 2015. He was elected president of the board in 2017 and has been working to bring the members of Squash ACT the best squash experience possible. 

“It is a rewarding experience and the volunteer’s who contribute so much yet remain unheralded are the people that inspire me to lift my game,” Nuttall said. 

Like many sports COVID-19 knocked Squash ACT around but Nuttall and the team at Squash ACT are working closely with the members about how they can improve their squash experience. 

“COVID knocked us around quite a bit, especially in terms of participation, so now we are working with and listening to our members about how we can provide them with the best possible squash experience,” Nuttal said. 

Part of his role as president of Squash ACT, Nuttall is part of the Squash Australia Presidents Council and the Executive Officers Committee and said it has been a helpful  experience. 

“Meeting with the other presidents is helpful because it is quite collaborative and it is interesting to hear the strategies they are using to engage with the communities and the answers and suggestions that are offered to questions posed to the group,” Nuttal said. 

Squash ACT is hosting the Australian Junior Championships in September and the team are looking forward to providing an excellent experience to the visiting competitors. 

“It will be hard work, but it will be rewarding to bring the Junior Championships to Canberra and hopefully Squash ACT’s team of volunteers will be able to assist Squash Australia in delivering an excellent event,” Nuttal said.