A dedicated rugby enthusiast from Hokitika with almost a half century-long family connection to local rugby was last week made a life member of the West Coast Rugby Football Union.
Karen Burrows was awarded the honour by former New Zealand Rugby Union president John Sturgeon at the Coast union’s annual general meeting, in recognition of her contribution to the game locally.
Mrs Burrows, 57, has held a number of roles, including rugby union vice-president, as well as managing West Coast under-18, under-16 and under-12 teams. She will begin a second stint as rugby union president in 2013. She has also organised JAB junior rugby in the region for more than 20 years.
She said West Coast rugby was “a family tradition”, following in the footsteps of her father, the late Brian McCarthy.
Her own association with the game in her hometown of Hokitika pre-dated the formation of the Wests Rugby Club, and her father’s association with South Westland rugby extended 20 years before that.
“I have enjoyed the many contacts I made over the years, and was honoured to accept the life membership,” Mrs Burrows said.
“I started when I had two sons, when they were little I started coaching. Wests was still St Mary’s when I initially started.
West Coast Rugby Union promotions officer Adam Gilshnan said Mrs Burrow’s husband Pat had also represented West Coast at senior level in the mid to late-1960s, while Mr McCarthy had a distinguished career in West Coast rugby management, having been a past president, chairman and life member.
“It is thought that Karen and her father Brian hold a unique record in New Zealand rugby as the first father-daughter combination to both have held the title of rugby union president, as well as the title of life member,” Mr Gilshnan said.
Mr Sturgeon said Mrs Burrows’ hard work and “loyalty to our great game” made her a worthy recipient of the honour.
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