BA Volunteer of the Year – Gary Costigan
By Lesley Bates
It was a pleasure to have been successful with my nomination of Gary Costigan as Aero Bowls Volunteer of the Year 2020. He has been a coach, games director and bowls co- ordinator at his own club Thuringowa, District President of the North Queensland District Men’s Bowls Association for three years and had previously served as Vice President. Gary and his committee visited clubs in four different regional areas regarding competition priorities, calendar events and governance issues for Coronavirus restrictions to ensure safe environments for members.
He assisted in securing $26,000 in grants to benefit his members, helped in coaching primary school children with the Bowls Australia Sporting Schools program and donated the fees back to the district. He is a committed club coach and helped Olly Corken reach State Championship level on two occasions where Gary paid for his own expenses to attend the events in Brisbane and Toowoomba.He was actively involved in Bowls Queensland’s first and second North vs. South Tests which were held at Suburban Bowls Club in Townsville in 2018 and 2019. We are fortunate and proud to have such a committed person to help keep our sport alive and future proof it by nurturing the next generation of bowlers and committees.
