It's official: Kristy Robertson is Sport NSW's Community Official of the Year for 2020.
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After her nomination was announced in August, Robertson was named the winner on November 18 at the 2020 NSW Community Sports Awards.
The victory, Robertson said, was "a little bit of a surprise".
"When you're nominated, you don't really know who you're up against.
"Prior to the event, I got the runsheet with everyone's background and I thought I don't have the same experience as the other nominees, so it was a surprise but also exciting and something I'm proud of."
The Sport NSW award follows Robertson's win in the same category at the 2019 Hockey NSW Awards, and both recognised her dedication to education of both state and local umpires.
Robertson has undertaken active roles within the Hockey NSW community as an Umpire Manager and Umpire Coach at various events such as the Hockey NSW Regional Challenge and Junior State Championships.
At such events, Robertson oversees the junior officials and provides guidance and feedback on their performance.
Similarly, she has established a Junior Umpire Development program in Goulburn which aims to upskill young local umpires and provides a pathway to opportunities at higher levels.
Having begun her umpiring career by happenstance - as a youngster, Robertson's brother went to tournaments which often needed additional umpires, so she volunteered - Robertson hopes she can be an example to other aspiring umpires from regional areas.
"It wasn't until I was about 18 that there were other opportunities to umpire at higher level competitions," Robertson said.
"I never thought I would be where I am with my umpiring, and it's hard to comprehend but Goulburn has an amazing history of hockey and I'm lucky in that respect. It shows you don't have to be from the big smoke to be successful."
Sports NSW chairperson, Carolyn Campbell, said Robertson's award was well-deserved, and thanked the volunteers whose contributions often go unseen but keep community sport running.
"The army of sports volunteers, who are involved in sport every weekend, are the lifeblood that keeps community sport going, and we are delighted to pay special tribute to Kristy for the hundreds of hours she has contributed over the past 12 months," Campbell said.
"Despite a year where community sport has been interrupted because of COVID-19, sport remains at the heart of communities across NSW. Sport is unique as it has the ability to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together.
"It is fitting we recognise and honour our volunteer sports workforce with these Awards. Without these hard-working volunteers, tens of thousands of boys and girls, men and women, would not be able to enjoy the health, social and community benefits sport provides."
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