Just in time for Father’s Day, Ben Spencer, a 37-year-old full-time Transgrid employee, local business owner, fifth-generation Binalong NSW community member, and dad, has been announced the winner of the Community Sports Dad of the Year.
Mr Spencer was chosen from a field of hundreds for his extensive and ongoing commitment to Binalong, a small NSW town of 550 people one hour north-west of Canberra.
The annual national award, now in its 13th year and founded by Paul Masluk, is proudly supported by Philips Water.
Mr Spencer’s decades-long and ongoing multiple contributions are too extensive to list in full.
Notably, however, he is president of the Binalong Swimming Club and coaches local children three afternoons a week during swimming season and attends competitions on weekends. He is president of the Binalong Brahmans Football Club where he does everything from mowing fields to general club jobs. This is a role he has held since he was 25 years old and during his presidency the club has raised over $25,000 for charity – a significant achievement for a small-town club.
Mr Spencer also founded Spencer Swim Safe, a not-for-profit organisation created to provide essential learn-to-swim & life-saving skills in remote Australian and international communities.
This has included programs in a remote village in the Philippines, an orphanage in Thailand, and the remote Indigenous community of Yarrabah in Far North Queensland.
Mr Spencer is a proud Dad to Ian, 9, and Harry, 7, who both love their sport, especially rugby league and swimming and who attend Binalong Public School, which has just 38 students from kindergarten to Year 6.
Renee Arabin, the Principal at Binalong Public School, nominated Mr Spencer, whom she has known for over 20 years.
“Ben shows our kids and the wider community what it means to give service to others. He cares and invests in our kids and our community, now and in the future,” she says.
Mr Spencer will receive a Philips Water Station valued at $1,299 and can choose a sporting organisation to receive a $5,000 Rebel Sport voucher to use on new equipment or uniforms.
“It is a huge privilege to accept this award,” he says.
“I am hoping to divide the $5,000 between the Swimming Club in Binalong, the Yass Magpie Junior Rugby League and the football team at Binalong Public School.”
In winning this award, Mr Spencer is delighted that it will shine more well-deserved light on the community of Binalong who have, “…always punched above their weight” when it comes to helping their community or others.
“When the Philippines had their typhoon, I think we raised around $16k,” he said.
On the extraordinary efforts that led to winning this award, Mr Spencer said that he does it, “…just because someone needs to, I guess, and to keep the community spirit going.”
He hopes that his children and grandchildren might be inspired to continue in the same way.
And to any dad who is yet to experience the reward and satisfaction of contributing in this way to their community and in the children’s lives. “The hardest part is walking through the door, so just make that first initial step and put your hand up,” says Mr Spencer.
“These dads are what keep grassroots sport alive, giving kids a platform to build confidence, friendships, and create memories that last a lifetime,” says a spokesperson for Community Sports Dads.
Mr Spencer says that he is also accepting the award on behalf of numerous other dads in his community, who he believes deserve this award just as much.
“Happy Father’s Day to all of you, you who do so much in the sporting world as well,” he says.
