National Volunteers Week – Q&A with Volunteer of the Year Daniel Melican

Daniel has been volunteering since he was 12-years-old and can be found at the club seven day a week. He is vice-president, plays in the club’s first XI, is captain of the Sunday team and club curator. He also spends time coaching and providing 1-on-1 advice. We asked Daniel why he volunteers and what he finds rewarding.

Why did you start volunteering at your club? 

I got involved with volunteering after I saw others giving up their time for the benefit of the club. I realised it doesn’t matter how big or how small of an impact you have, help does go a long way and every club needs its volunteers.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of volunteering?

The most rewarding part of volunteering is seeing people coming into the clubrooms after trainings or a game and seeing a room full of club people. It makes all of the work worthwhile to see everyone enjoying themselves and forming friendships.

Do you have any heroes or people you look up to as volunteers? How have they inspired you? 

I wouldn’t say I have heroes but I definitely have people I have looked up to. Club legends from recent times are a good example. They have shown me the time and effort that is necessary for the club to be still existing.

What are some challenges you’ve overcome and how did you do this?

Some challenges would definitely be time management. Working full-time and then either curating or training four to five days per week is tiring, but also very rewarding. Coaching is my favourite part of volunteering, and when you see people drastically getting better throughout the season it is one of the best feelings in the world and makes it all worthwhile.

Do you have any advice for young players thinking about volunteering at their club? 

I would 100% recommend it. Offering to help will have a big impact on any club. It’s only going to make your club a better place. There are so many jobs that are involved in running a club. Even just picking up after yourself makes such a big difference. It also makes others want to help seeing a young player giving back. It makes them realise that it shouldn’t be the same people doing the work each day and shows it can be a very rewarding experience.