National Volunteer Week: Enjoyment the key for BPL volunteer
With National Volunteer Week celebrated from May 16-22, 2022, it has been a time to reflect on and thank our volunteers for the tireless work that is done at bowls clubs across the country.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of bowls, making the game accessible to people right around Australia.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we caught up with Ben Krikstolaitis, a volunteer who caught some eyes and put smiles on faces at the most recent Bowls Premier League in Moama in Febraury.
Ben, a bowler at St Georges Basin on NSW’s south coast, worked as a marker at BPL14.
With his home club some eight hours from Moama, it was his passion for bowls and desire to help out that led him to the high-profile event.
“I used to bowl with (Moama bowls manager) Stuart White. I called him to see if I could visit for a tournament and he asked if I wanted to help at the BPL.
“I knew about the BPL having watched it on TV, so I was keen to get involved.”
The event ran well, with Ben and all the other volunteers helping contribute to one of the better BPLs to date. However, there was something about Ben that drew attention.
Donning one red shoe and one black, as well as contrasting socks, Ben was able to do something different and put some smiles on faces in doing so.
“It’s all a bit of fun. I bought two pairs of shoes, one red pair and the other black and then mixed and matched, same as my socks,” he said.
“We’re there to promote the sport, so I tried my part to bring some energy and life and have some fun.”
Ben said he loved helping out and will be back again next year.
“Everyone volunteers because they love it, and it’s the same for me,” he said.
So this National Volunteer Week, to all our volunteers (matching shoes or not!), we thank you. We are Better Together.
