Snow Australia celebrates volunteers’ crucial contribution to the sport

In most sports, parents sit on the sidelines watching and cheering, but events like the Snowsport Interschools Championships offer them unique opportunities to actively participate with their children throughout their entire schooling career. 

Whether helping out on the slopes, supporting administrative processes or managing school teams, long-time Snowsport Interschools volunteer Roland Everingham thinks everybody can find a rewarding role to support and encourage young skiers as they go through the Interschools program.

Roland began his volunteer journey when his daughters were in primary school, starting with Saturday afternoon ‘working bees’. As his daughters got older, Roland and his wife, Sue, continued supporting their sporting interests and later got involved with the Snowsport Interschools Championships at Regional and State level. 

Roland is one of over three million Australians who every year donate their time to supporting sport and physical activity, including running events on snow. Their commitment and crucial contribution to Australian sport is being recognised this week on the occasion of National Volunteer Week, Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering.

“I have always been happy to do whatever is required by the Interschools organisers,” Roland said about his volunteer experience.

A parent organiser for his daughters’ school team for about six years, Roland also ran sports fundraisers, organising annual dinners and on-snow get-togethers. Alongside other like-minded volunteers, he facilitated training sessions and, until recently, ran an annual race event, also purchasing race suits and helmet covers for the participants.

After two difficult years disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated border closures, Roland is looking forward to welcoming the Snowsport Interschools Championships back, also encouraging more people to put up their hand to support the events as volunteers and join in on the fun, with a variety of roles available.

“Before [last year’s] cancellation I helped with placing the competitor bibs for each team in their school bags,” Roland said.

“This occurred in the hall at Jindabyne Central School. It is a complex undertaking, performed with military precision! There are literally dozens of people folding, assembling and depositing team bibs. 

“[National Interschools Snowsports Committee’s Chair] Steve Cooper keeps things humming by playing his favourite music from the 60’s. It drives people wild – but I love it. I am definitely up for that this year,” he said.

Roland is also active on snow, where on a typical Interschools event day up to 50 volunteer officials are needed on the various resort competition courses to create a fair and safe event for everyone involved. 

“One of my favourite volunteer roles is ‘chopping’ the Moguls jumps. This involves using spades to keep the snow safe for landing jumps. It can be hard work, but it’s a lot of fun and the best place to view the competition!” he said.

Like Roland, many volunteers get involved in snow sports following their children’s sporting activities and to support other young people chasing their sporting goals, but they find the experience so personally satisfying that they decide to remain a part of the community. A community where they have built strong social relationships, met like-minded people and formed long-lasting friendships over the years.

“I have enjoyed volunteering and although our daughters have now left high school, I will continue to volunteer with the Interschools program.

“It’s just great to see snowsports continue to grow.

“I have a passion for skiing, but my interest has grown beyond the sport itself,” said Roland, who has also been on the board of the Perisher’s Australian Alpine Club for 11 years and on the board of SLOPES, the Ski Lodges Organisation of Perisher Smiggins and Guthega, for six years, in a volunteer capacity.

“Both roles involve plenty of work, but are immensely satisfying,” he added. 

As the country continues to celebrate National Volunteer Week and the Snowsport Interschools Championships are about to return bigger and better than ever, Snow Australia joins the rest of the snow sports community in saying ‘thank you’ to the volunteers who continue to support our sport, as without their hard work and dedication, running events on snow would simply not be possible.