The Andy Coulter Award was presented at the Marsden/Neilburg Minor Hockey Banquet, which was held in the Neilburg Community Hall, April 16.
This award is given to someone who volunteers and supports sporting activities and not necessarily someone who is a coach or a manager. The 2013 recipient was Diane Elchyson.
The speech that was given that evening noted, "Diane never played sports in school. She followed (her husband) Barrie's hockey career, even to the United States, where he had a scholarship to BemidjiState University. Diane playedbroomball in Southey and did a little bonspieling in Neilburg. Sports just weren't her thing, that is until she had kids.
"The endless driving, the booth shifts, the fundraising, the cheering, the encouraging and consoling that goes along with being a sports Mom, that was Diane's role. Diane is a huge supporter of sports, doing the thankless jobs, doing it right and making it better for everyone.
"Diane watched hundreds of ringette, hockey, baseball, rugby and volleyball games. She especially loves to watch the beginners age group, and still goes to watch.
"She has been the booth caretaker in Neilburg for almost 20 years, going above and beyond to ensure the facility is clean and functioning well. Diane takespride in a facility that is welcome and keeping it clean was her top priority. For many years she also stocked and ordered supplies.
"Diane's new name should be 'The Renovation Queen.' You name it, she has renovated or painted it. Diane has played a major role in the upkeep of the curling rink and the arena for 20some years. One of the first projects she was a part of was painting thedressing rooms in the basement. With no money, the ringette moms rounded up some left over paint from Ralph Watson and mixed it all together and got to work!
"Other projects included: recovering the curling rink seats, years ago, and cushioning the bar benches inthe basement;tiling a shower in the basement and building cedar shower mats;tiling and renovating the ladies' washroom;painting and painting and paintingevery possible inchof the arena and curling rink; renovating the bar and bathrooms in the curling rink (not once, but twice); putting pine wood on the entryway of the arena; renovating the kitchen in the booth; helping put pine on the ceiling of the arena lobby and building a rolling cupboard (pay cupboard).
"Throughout the years, Diane has also done the cashbox for the booth and the senior Monarch books. Diane organized a silent auction for the Neilburg Recreation Board andraised $10,000. She spent many hours out at the ball diamonds, cleaning the booth and whipper snipping around the diamonds and trees. She never had to be asked, she just knew it had to be done, so she did it. She was even brave enough to clean the outhouses!
"To top it off, she has also been on the Neilburg Hall Board, the Village Green Park Board and has been a huge help to CAGE. Even afterthe millions of miles she hasdriven kids to sports, she can still be counted on to drive students to school sporting events and to feed large groups of them before they go to hockey or rugby. She aways said, 'the more the merrier' -- and she meant it.
"Throughout the last 30 years, Dianehas worked the booth, at numerous fundraisers, renovated,cleaned and cleaned some more. To her, it was justwhat you do for your community, and the community,and the kids is what are importantto her."
