And he did just that on Tuesday when NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, Graham Annesley, was in town.

Annesley, a former NRL referee turned politician, visited Dubbo as a guest of local MP Troy Grant to congratulate Webster on his recent Australia Day award as well as to look around the facilities that Dubbo Touch has used to host the NSW Country Championships for more than two decades.

And while the Liberal Party member for Miranda was suitably impressed, Webster outlined how the club had plans to construct a clubhouse on the riverbank facility.

“We have such a good facility here grounds-wise and the council do a great job with them but it is getting harder to keep the country championships here with other cities putting in good bids,” Webster said.

“The next step for us would be a clubhouse that can house the country champs but also support our local competitions.

“Our senior numbers have increased by 26 per cent in the past year or two and our juniors by 100 per cent so we are growing.

“We have a preliminary budget of $400,000 for a clubhouse and while we are well off financially, we do need more funding to get us over the line.”

Annesley admitted to being impressed by the facility and proud of the work put into all sport by volunteers.

He also outlined an annual facilities grant available to all organisations to improve and build facilities such as the one Dubbo Touch is seeking to construct

“Sport survives on volunteers and, without people like Neil being involved, it just doesn’t happen,” Annesley said.

“This is a fantastic area for all kinds of sports but the number of touch footballers involved shows it is clearly a popular sport.

“It is great to see a sport growing at a time when others aren’t and the thing about touch football is that it caters for both male and female, young people, those bringing up families and also those in their more senior years.

“Groups like the NRL, ARU, AFL and FFA look after themselves. My role is about grass roots level like this, people in communities doing things to help health and fitness and social interaction within the community.

“The work Neil and his committee have been doing - it’s a great tribute they have been able to keep the event year after year.”