The 2024/25 speedway season is just around the corner, and that means the search for the newest Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri Gary Rodd Memorial club person of the year will soon get underway.
The late Gary Rodd, who died in October last year, was an important and well-respected member of the local speedway community. He was instrumental in getting the club back up and running in 2013 following a hiatus and had since served on the committee across several positions, including president.
Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri introduced a club person of the year award in the 2022/23 season, which was won by Josiah Barnes, and this year it was decided that the award would be now known as the Gary Rodd Memorial Shield for the club person of the year.
The club’s secretary Nikki Garnham was a well-deserved recipient of the award for the 2023/24 campaign.
“Gary Rodd did a lot for the club and did it for a long time,” club president Glen Braithwaite told The Courier.
“When he got sick and passed, we wanted to dedicate an award to him, and we went with the clubman of the year because he has done so much for the club.
“The award is for someone who outshines at our club, comes forward and does a fair bit of work, and helps out a lot.
“Nikki Garnham won it last season (at the presentation last month). Very deserving. She’s our secretary and she is from down at Gilgandra.”
Gary’s two sons James and Chris said their family were honoured that the club had named the award after their father, who they both looked up to and described as a hard worker.
“It means a lot to us, that the club and past and present members have recognised everything that dad has put into the speedway,” James said.
“He was a jack of all and a master of none, and definitely didn’t take any credit. He did a bit of everything over the years.
“He never raced. He got involved when I wanted to get into the juniors.
“Every year he’d say, ‘we’ve got to keep it going, it’s good for the town’.
“He got life membership (in 2022) and unfortunately he wasn’t able to enjoy that lifetime membership, which is unfortunate, but we’re honoured that his legacy isn’t forgotten.”
“He’d always be over here doing something and we always enjoyed helping dad,” Chris added.
“Dad did a lot. He spent countless hours on the grader doing the track. He could spend up to 20 hours prior to a race meeting prepping.
“He worked very hard.”
A lovely story, Blake and fitting tribute to a remarkable man.
Gary’s memory will live on through this trophy, nice to see the club recognise him in this manner.