A volunteer extraordinaire for many decades now, Maree Kirby has been synonymous with motocross events in NSW thanks to her involvement in running them at club and state levels. This National Volunteer Week, we caught up with her to learn more about her vast experience as well as her motivation to keep going.
What are some of your earliest memories of volunteering in motorcycling? What inspired you to get started?
My son started in the sport, racing when he was young, followed by my daughter a while later. I got involved in the sport as a volunteer through two wonderful people, Mr Kevin McDonald and Mrs Marian Burrow – working alongside them and learning a great deal. I started with John Warden at the Oberon Motorcycle Club where I was part of the executive committee for a number of years, also getting involved at Lower Mountains Motorcycle Club where I am a life member and club secretary. I have travelled all over New South Wales over the years, volunteering as a key official.
I am currently a member of NSW MX committee and have been able to guide and help other committee members to keep improving our mx events and club over the years. No events are the same, so at every event you attend, you face different challenges, ensuring that you are always learning and putting your knowledge and experience into play.
How has volunteering influenced your personal growth outside of the sport? Have you found yourself applying any skills or lessons in your day-to-day life from your experience volunteering?
The skills we use in our sport, we also end up using in our everyday. Volunteers teach children in our sport good sportsmanship, respect and understanding of rules and regulations – and in our day-to-day, we try and teach these skills to our family members and people we work with.
Any favourite and unforgettable memories of volunteering from all these years?
I have made so many memories and have also made some dear family friends who I still see at race events today. I am in the third generation in some families in the sport, and it is so special to have watched them come into the sport in their early days, while coming in to watch their grandkids now. I have watched riders progress through the ranks to become some of Australia’s elite riders.
I was asked to become a trainer and assessor for Motorcycling New South Wales, through Charles Sturt University – after passing the same, I am now a certified 4 Trainer and Assessor. Over the years, I have given my knowledge and experiences to a lot of volunteers wanting to become key officials. I get a lot of satisfaction watching new volunteers show off their skills and knowledge of our sport. 
Sticking with the theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week of ‘Something for Everyone,’ what have you noticed about volunteering in motorcycling that makes it such a fulfilling experience?
Becoming a volunteer in our sport can be very rewarding and satisfying. You watch children young and old, along with their parents, show us their skills. It is very rewarding when riders, parents and even grandparents come and thank you for your work in making their race special and enjoyable.
What’s one piece of advice you would give other volunteers or others looking to give their time to our sport?
To anybody wanting to become a volunteer, remember that what you put into the sport, will come back to you in so many different ways. Most of all, enjoy every minute of it and have fun!