Sunshine Coast volunteer Kev awarded as Senior of the Year

Kevin Stroud likes to live his life by giving back.

A volunteer with the Caloundra Sharks Junior Rugby League Football Club for 40 years and with the Sunshine Coast Referees for 35 years, Stroud was recently recognised for his dedication and service, after he was awarded the Senior of the Year for Queensland by the Order of Australia Association.

If his work for rugby league wasn’t enough, Stroud has also volunteered with the Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club and the TS Onslow Australian Navy Cadets at Golden Beach.

As well as working in real estate, Stroud is one busy man.

But the 74-year-old said his reasons for doing what he does are simple – it’s for his pure love of rugby league and for the next generations of kids.

“A mentor of mine and former referee, Richie Johnson, had this saying that, ‘I may not make you a better referee, but I’ll make you a better person’,” Stroud said.

“That’s a little saying that I’ve always kept with me over the years and I’ve used that a lot.

“I just like helping children because it’s hard enough for kids these days. They face new problems with technology and I just think, if we can get them away from screens and off the streets and playing sports instead, then let’s do what we can.

“I also like to do this because of my love of rugby league … I like the game and if we don’t have enough people to support the grassroots in any sport, you’re going to be in trouble.

“It’s just something I’ve done and done and done. People say I should stop or retire and get in a caravan and go around Australia, but I don’t like caravans to start with. I’m a glamper. I don’t get in caravans, that’s not me.

“But in all seriousness, I would rather do this. I want to stay with what I’m doing and what I love.”

Stroud played the game growing up in Sydney and then a few years after moving to Queensland, he started volunteering with the Caloundra juniors in 1982 as a coach.

From there, he moved into refereeing from 1986 until 2002 and also served a brief period volunteering with the senior club.

He has held – and continues to hold – a number of roles, including junior coordinator for Caloundra rugby league, a coach and match day official, president of various boards, vice president of the Caloundra Sharks JRLC and the referee delegate for junior rugby league on the Sunshine Coast.

Stroud said the award from the Order of Australia Association came about because a staff member at the Cadets, who is also a member of the Order of Australia Association, recommended him.

He said while he doesn’t volunteer to receive the accolades, he knew this one was meaningful.

“I was very honoured,” Stroud said.

“I’m one of those people that doesn’t expect any of these things. I don’t go out of my way to go achieve them.”

Stroud said a lot of the work he does is made easy because of the support of his family.

A father and grandfather, many of his children and grandchildren have followed in his footsteps in one way or another.

His son, Kent, and one of his daughters - Kathy Jackson - both refereed, with four grandsons now doing the same.

His other daughter, Kristina Vassallo, is also the registrar for Sunshine Coast Rugby League while Kathy now helps to run the Little Athletics club at Caloundra, where his two granddaughters compete.

Stroud said when it comes to his volunteering, it’s not just his own family that he wants to inspire, but everyone around him.

It’s a lasting legacy that Stroud hopes to have.

“If I can inspire the people around me, especially the young ones, then I would like to,” he said.

“They don’t have to do exactly what I’ve done but even if it’s a tenth of what I do in terms of helping out … we have to keep those volunteers going.

“We’ve got to get out and get back to this - helping sporting clubs, making them grow, and helping kids with their mindset and balance of life.

“That’s what’s important.”