For many people in Young, Donna Dal Molin is a hero. Now, her tireless dedication and infectious energy has been recognised at the NSWRL Community Service Awards as their 2026 Women in League – Person of the Year.
Donna has been involved with the Young Cherrypickers since she and her family moved to Young in the early 2010s.
After her children became involved in the Junior rugby league, Donna decided to get involved. Since then, Donna’s commitment to the club has far exceeded what most can comprehend.
“At the time we were told, ‘you know, we need more volunteers’,” she says.
“So, my husband and I put our hands up and got involved, and I never looked back.”
Donna’s kids have now moved across to the Seniors team, where she also works as the Club Secretary, and level 1 & 2 Sports Trainer (amongst other things).
Nominated by Coach Dan Barclay, Donna says she would never have thought she’d actually win the award.
“Dan had put me up for an award amongst others within our deserving club, but I didn’t think I would be successful for anything, because there’s some amazing women in rugby league,” she says.
“I’m humbled by it, because there are so many women that do so many great things for the sport, and I’m grateful to be nominated number one.
“It’s an honour to be given the award.”
A primarily male-dominated sport in the public eye, Donna says it’s incredibly important to recognise the amazing women behind the scenes.
“Women in tackle has been on the rise,” she says.
Recently overseeing the Cherrypickers’ Ladies Day, Donna says they were overwhelmed and grateful to welcome more than 100 participants and says it was a promising outlook for the future of women in league.
“To see the women not only recognised in the sport, but the mums and other people who are participating and helping out behind the scenes was amazing,” she says.
“I work with an amazing committee at the Cherrypickers, and also with the Junior Pickers as well.
“There are some great administrators in and around both our clubs, and Young is so lucky to have such great women involved.”
Although Donna’s first rugby league match for the Pickers was at 45-years-old, her head’s always been in the game for sports.
“I’m also involved in netball as the treasurer and the senior coordinator for basketball,” she says.
Growing up, Donna says women around her didn’t play football, and her entry into the sport was touch and go.
“I had to play with my brother in the backyard with all his mates,” she says.
“My dad played football, so I went and watched him, and my brother played football. I was always in and around the fields.”
With football seemingly ruled out as an option, Donna says she turned to hockey before switching to netball (which she played until she was in her 20s), only stopping when she had kids.
“I took a bit of time away from the game and then I coached with my daughter. Then I started playing again.”
Although Donna hasn’t been far from a field, court or pitch, she says entering it as a player was a whole different kettle of fish.
“I’ve got very bad knees and shouldn’t be playing sport at all, but you know… I like to do things that I shouldn’t do at my age,” she says.
Now recognised at the NSWRL Awards, Donna says she hopes her story inspires other women to give their local sporting groups a go.
“Having kids and getting them and yourself into sports is the best thing that you can do, because you meet so many great people and you build such great friendships that you wouldn’t normally do if you just sat on the sidelines,” she says.
“Sports don’t happen if we don’t have volunteers and helpers,” she says.
Despite Donna’s tireless schedule, she says the true heroes are her family, who have been instrumental in her success.
“If I didn’t have the support of my family, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do,” she says.
“My husband gets involved as well and it’s a team effort from the Dal Molin’s.
“I’m humbled by the award and grateful for the opportunity that rugby league’s given me as a person to grow.
“I wouldn’t have the opportunities or know the people I do if I didn’t have rugby league, or through volunteering in that capacity that I have.”
Donna success has been widely celebrating by Young locals, who enjoy their weekly sports thanks to her hard work.
Elizabeth Kovacs
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