Canestrari may not have scored a century or taken a five-wicket haul but her tireless work behind the scenes for the Highlands District Cricket Association (HDCA) has seen her named May's Berrima District senior sportsperson of the month. Canestrari was awarded the inaugural Paul Stutchbury award at the HDCA presentation night in May.

Cricket requires diligent behind the scenes work and heroes to make sure the wheels are greased. Canestrari put her hand up for any job ranging from umpiring, scoring or statistician. She said she wanted no rewards and did it for the love of the game and what it stands for.

After HDCA life-member Paul Stutchbury passed away earlier this year, the HDCA started a “volunteer of the year” perpetual trophy in his honour. Canestrari fought back tears when accepting it from Lyn Stutchbury amid deafening applause by the cricket fraternity.

Whether it is for her beloved Moss Vale first-graders or travelling with the Highlands’ victorious Country Plate team, she was there, coloured pens in hand, to record the days proceedings.

o May's junior winner is Justin Wanczura. Wanczura has excelled in the pool over the last couple of months and performed strongly at the NSW All Schools swimming carnival at Homesbush Aquatic in May. It was Wanczura’s first time at the carnival and he was thrilled to come home fifth in the 13 years 100m breaststroke and sixth in the 13 years 50m breast stroke.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Wednesday, June 25

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