Jack Woolaston: Bears great named NSW Rugby League's 2021 volunteer of the year (Northern Region)

"I thought there was other fellas who put in a lot of work, too, but they died. And I'm the only poor old bastard who's still alive," the 96-year-old said.

Woolaston, the founding president of the North Tamworth Bears, was named NSW Rugby League's 2021 volunteer of the year (Northern Region).

Read also:

Given his age, he was unable to receive the award in person this month at the Brad Fittler Medal night at The Star Casino, in Sydney.

Pat Crowe represented the Bears at the gala dinner and accepted the gong on Woolaston's behalf.

At the event, Crowe got a phone recording of South Sydney star Damien Cook giving a shoutout to Woolaston - a Rabbitohs fan who has a soft spot for the Cowboys, but not for a certain ex-Souths coach.

"I couldn't stand that wormy bloody Bennett," he said while sitting on the verandah of his modest unit at Kurrajong Village.

Woolaston's wife of 72 years, Pat, lives at a retirement village. He used to drive to see her, but no longer has a restricted licence.

"With all the mad bastards on the road now, they're runnin' in front of ya, and I'm ..."

"The reflexes are not there [any more] - you know?" he added.

Woolaston said he was "blessed" to have lived so long. "I didn't think I'd ever see my great grandchildren."

He has four of them.

The great man was born not long after the 2018 Spanish flu pandemic ravaged Australia and the world, killing tens of millions. He described the COVID-19 pandemic as "bloody terrible".

"I didn't think it'd ever happen. This is a terrible thing."

As a former Tamworth builder, Woolaston's imprint on the city is significant.

He also helped build the ground named after him. Although the man who lied about his age to enlist in World War II - who the Leader last year reported was Tamworth's sole remaining World War II veteran - is unsure if he will attend Norths games at Jack Woolaston Oval next year.

"I might not be around," he said, adding: "It's terribly hard to go out in public."

It was not hard, however, for the Somerton-raised former winger to recall his youth. "I was a good athlete, I could run. There wasn't too many who could beat me over 100 yards."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: