Every month with the help of Pirtek, we celebrate a volunteer who has contributed immensely to rugby league and their community. The tough Covid-19 period has not stopped Shayne Wassel of the Takahiwai Rugby League club from providing tireless support to the local team. Congratulations to Shayne, our September Pirtek Volunteer of the Month.

A single father to four kids who all play Rugby League, Shayne can often be found at Takahiwai Rugby League club selling sausages, setting up for the day or fixing a goal post or a broken fence.

He also coaches and manages various club teams on top of coaching an international grade representative side. Shayne places huge importance on the local game and continuously gives back to the footy club and local community.

He has several mild disabilities including mild deafness, speech impediment and blindness in one eye; however, that doesn’t hold him back!

“His smile and huge sense of humour are well noticed throughout Northland. As well as being very welcoming and supportive to new parents and players he is consistently there to support them along their rugby league journey,” says nominator Ari Carrington.

Chris Bourke, General Manager at Pirtek says, “Shayne Wassel is a standout Pirtek Volunteer of the Month recipient for a multitude of reasons and is a great representative for the Takahiwai club. 

“Shayne appears to take life’s challenges on the chin and puts his children, others and Rugby League well in front of himself. The other contributing strength to Shayne’s character is that he welcomes newcomers to the Rugby League community, which has a great impact on the continuity of our great game.”

Shayne epitomises our ‘Kiwi Way’ and ‘More Than a Game’ values and is a well-deserved recipient of Pirtek’s Volunteer of the Month Award.