QUEANBEYAN Whites' administrator and winner of the ACT Rugby Union's volunteer of the year award, Franca Jones, has made the top five nominees for the same award with the Australian Rugby Union.
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Whites secretary Ian Godfrey decided to forward his ACTRU nomination of Jones to the ARU after she had won her ACT award, of which she was the first female to win that award.
Jones' ARU nomination also follows that of Bungendore Mudchooks rugby union club president Gary Cook, who was nominated back in July.
Jones said she was not hopeful of winning the award, with the award going to ACT region nominees in the last two years, but said she was still happy to make the top five and to be recognised by the ARU for her efforts in grass-roots rugby.
"You do it [volunteer] because you've been involved in the game for so long and you get results as long as you enjoy it, because there's no money there to pay anyone," Jones said.
Godfrey said the work Jones does for the club was so great that club president David Jones would struggle to cope without his wife Franca's help
"She has been at the forefront of ensuring that the Whites continue to be successful both on and off the field," Godfrey said.
Godfrey also said Jones' work within the Queanbeyan community should be recognised, and said she had encouraged players at the Whites to attend community events where in the past they would not have.
"She has worked with 'Home' in Queanbeyan where she has successfully encouraged players to work outside of playing, where they have attended movie nights in support of clinical depression," he said.
The ARU will announce the award winner on October 3.