Almost five decades of volunteer work for the Kempsey-Macleay Off Road Club from couple Maurice ‘Maurie’ Fuller OAM and Robyn Fuller was acknowledged at the annual NSW Community Sports Awards night at NSW Parliament House.
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The loving couple, who were born and raised in Kempsey, received the Distinguished Long Service Awards to Motor Sport for their extraordinary contribution at the Sports NSW Community Awards night.
Robyn and Maurie were honoured to receive the award and said volunteers are vital.
“When you work as a Volunteer you work in a team with some amazing people, who give their time so that the sport continues, and is there for future generations to enjoy as you have,” Robyn said.
“Recognition of volunteers is important as they keep all sports going these days.”
Maurie’s love of motorsport began when he purchased his first car. It wasn’t long after this, in 1964, that he became the Foundation Member of the Macleay District Motor Cycle Club.
Maurie has held many committee positions over the years and the club has held dirt track events at the Greenhill Speedway ever since.
The Macleay resident was also a competitor and raced a sidecar for 10 years, as a progression from dirt track.
In 1976, the couple bought a parcel of land at Dondingalong and got it approved as a Motor Sports Complex.
Open Motor Cross Events were held for many years with many top Australian Riders competing.
In 1981 ‘The Macleay 1000’ Off Road Car Event was held based at Sherwood. This created a great interest in Off Road Racing. It catered for low budget racing and the sport grew rapidly from there.
In 1982 The Macleay Off Road Club was formed with Maurie a Foundation Member. The club then made the Dondingalong Circuit home and built an Off Road Circuit for cars and have run State events annually there ever since.
Robyn has always been a volunteer working many positions from canteen to event secretary and chief timekeeper.
Maurie was inducted into the NSW Off Road Racing Hall of Fame in 2007, and Robyn in 2017.
In 2017 the couple were both awarded Service Awards at the CAMS NSW Motor Sport Awards Night.
Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres has paid tribute to the volunteers of community sport on the awards night.
“More than 2.1 million people give up their time to volunteer across the state, with an incredible 500,000 volunteers contributing to local sport every week,” Mr Ayres said.
“Volunteering is the backbone of many communities and contributes more than 240 million hours of service and over $5 billion to the NSW economy every year.”
