Peakhurst resident Cherry Smith has been nominated for the prestigious Roger Smith Technical Official of the Year award by Swimming Australia.
Smith first started volunteering as an official when her children were participating in their local swimming club.
Now, more than 25 years later, Smith has moved into the position of referee – a role which involves overseeing all of the officials on the pool deck.
The job has taken her to swimming carnivals all around the world, including in Japan, America, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
But Smith’s favourite job of her career was refereeing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games earlier this year. She was one of only two referees – and the only Australian representative.
“I’ve been overseas to all these places, but to be here in front of 10,000 Aussie fans every day and night has been the highlight,” she said.
However, Smith admitted she was a little surprised to receive the honour.
“You hear your name mentioned around a little bit behind the scenes and I thought, ‘it won’t be me.’ It’s a very prestigious job and I was flattered,” she said.
Smith’s motto is “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
“I’ve taken out a lot more from swimming than I’ve put in, but it has been hard,” she said.
Each state and territory can put forward a nomination for the Roger Smith award, and Smith was the only NSW nominee.
“I was given the NSW Technical Official of the Year award so this would top off the year and the end of my career nicely,” she said.
Smith plans to hang up her boots in 18 months time.
The award will be announced at the Australian Short Course Championships in Melbourne on Friday, October 26, and will be officially presented the following night at Swimming Australia’s Gala Awards Night.
