Club Volunteer Profile : Collette Fitzgerald
6th July 2018
Club Volunteer Profile ⤵️
Club name: Tír na nÓg GAC Randalstown
Volunteer name: Collette Fitzgerald
What is their role at the club?
Health and Well-being Officer and Children Officer
How long have they been doing that role for?
4 -5yrs...time goes so quickly
What do they enjoy most about volunteering at the club?
I enjoy using my skill set to help grow and develop Tír na nÓg to ensure its longevity. In doing this I feel I am giving something back to all those who coached, mentored and were positive role models for my children and I hope that somehow I might be a positive influence on some child's life.
What is their most memorable moment or successful achievement at the club?
Two of the most memorable events were:
1. Securing CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) heart screening at the club which raised awareness and ensured positive outcomes for young people in the local area
2. “Bike to Bundoran” which seen a group of 50 cyclists and 50 supporters cycle 100miles from Tír na nÓg to Bundoran safely in 2016 and again in 2017. The cycle was to raise funds for the club and while I encouraged everyone to cycle and raise funds I did doubt myself. However with the Motto "fortune favours the brave" and good support from the club we made Bundoran as the sun went down all in one piece.
Is there anything they think the GAA need to do to help the clubs and their volunteers?
The GAA needs to continue to network through the Parish, through Education and through the Health Service to educate the public on what clubs deliver along side football, hurling, handball & camogie.
Education & health invest time and money in improving children's physical & mental wellbeing and self esteem. Parents need to see the value of a GAA club in meeting these needs in their children and helping them to grow. It comes back to the saying "it takes a village to raise a child"
