Cobar man Greg McKervey has been crowned 2023 Community Sports Dad of the Year, on Father's Day, alongside Dale Cherry-Evans, Captain of the Queensland Maroons and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL, and a Kangaroo halfback, who was crowned the 2023 Sports Dad of the Year.

The Sports Dad of the Year competition has been running for 15 years, and aims to highlight not only celebrity dads from various sporting codes but also community sports dads.

They are men - amateur and professional - who give us all an insight into how they juggle fatherhood with their community and sporting commitments and set great examples on and off the sporting field.

"It was a great honour to win this award," Greg McKervey told the Western Plains App. "I know that there are tens of thousands of parents in Australia who volunteer and I’m just a small example of that spirit".

Mr McKervey is the President of both the Cobar Junior Soccer Club and the Cobar Athletics and Triathlon Squad.

It was through his involvement with the Cobar Junior Soccer Club that he came to be nominated for the Community Sports Dad of the Year award.

Greg was nominated by a local parent, Caitlan Ayoub.

"I coach her son in soccer and he is a talented young player who I hope to see continue playing. I previously played for the seniors teams but injuries have put that dream to bed".

Greg McKervey with Cobar Junior Soccer Club members [Image: The Cobar Weekly]

"Greg goes above and beyond as the president of the Junior Soccer Club," Ms Ayoub said.

"I’m sure he must feel like he’s herding cats some weeks but he is so patient with the kids and has a real passion to share his knowledge and skills with them".

"This year my son along with lots of others moved up to the Mids division from the Minis (where they don’t play positions or have a keeper). They looked lost and didn’t know or understand the rules. Greg has worked really hard with the group to build their capacity and understanding of the game. The improvement I’ve seen with our Mids teams this season is phenomenal", Ms Ayoub said.

"Greg has been such a wonderful role model for all of our kids and especially for my son, Maddox. I’m sure some coaches would view Maddox as challenging. Most of our Mids players are stubborn, competitive and don’t like to lose. Greg has built a real rapport with Maddox - not always easy to do - and has taught him and the others that “you learn more when you lose”.

"Greg encourages Maddox to step outside of his comfort zone and to challenge himself. Greg has made a real difference to how Maddox views competitive sport and has really put in the work to encourage good sportsmanship amongst the Mids players", Ms Ayoub said.

Greg McKervey pictured, in August, with the Cobar Branch staff of the Regional Australia Bank, receiving funds via their

Community Partnership Program. [Image: Cobar Junior Soccer Club Facebook page]

Mr McKervey and wife, Louise, have 4 children aged 7 – 15 years old. They moved to Cobar in 2014 as they wanted to experience living in the country.

"I transferred from Sydney to Cobar and love living and working here. We love the community experience of living in a small country town. People are friendly and if you make an effort to get involved people respond well", Greg said.

Like most community sports dads out there, Greg told the Western Plains App that volunteering started out as "an effort to help out."

"[Then] mission creep has seen me take on more responsibilities as time went on. I enjoy having a role in the community, so it’s all worth the effort".

Mr McKervey said he appreciated sponsors Phillip’s Australia and Rebel Sport for their role in the award but that it is all the sporting volunteers who deserve credit.

"Mostly a special thank you to all the people who I work with while organising these sporting events. We are always looking for new people, with new ideas, so please come and join us".

Check out the Cobar Junior Soccer Club on Facebook, also the Cobar Athletics and Triathlon Squad on Facebook, if you would like to volunteer, or find out more about either club.

To find out more about the Sports Dad and Community Sports Dad of the Year awards, look at their page.