Skilled Toowoomba teen takes out Shell V-Power Volunteer Award for May

Highfields volunteer extraordinaire Ethan Garton is 15 and already impressing one of Queensland’s sharpest rugby league minds with his selfless acts.

It is not uncommon for Garton, who plays under 15s and 16s for the Toowoomba club, to put in 10-hour-plus days for Highfields on game day where he referees, runs water and does any job going.

Shallon Garton describes her son - the winner of the Queensland Rugby League's Shell V-Power Volunteer Award for the month of May - as “a passionate young man who lives and breathes rugby league”.

“Footy takes a big part of our life and has definitely brought out the best in him,” Garton said.

“Last year was his first year in rugby league and I haven’t been able to put the brakes on him.

“Our football days start at 7am, because he has to set up, and they finish at 6pm because he is the last one there picking up rubbish as he walks out the door.”

Former QRL chairman and referee Peter Betros, also Highfields' senior club president, has a reputation as one of the most dedicated and accomplished volunteers the game has seen. Betros has been super impressed by Garton and insists he has a huge future in the game.

“He genuinely comes from good stock. The way I describe it is, ‘Ethan Garton is parenting done right’,” Betros said.

“I’ve always been a big believer that what we do is not just about rugby league. It is life in general. His skills will take him a long way whether he is in rugby league or not. He has a good head on his shoulders.

“Ethan plays, he does refereeing and our video recording, and he pre-empts problems and lets us know about them. This morning he rang me to say that our draw says we are playing on Sunday but the My League app had us playing on Saturday…and he had a solution.

“I got onto it and sorted it, but he pre-empts all problems and is so keen to help out everyone on any issue.”

Ethan, who plays prop or second-row for the Highfields Eagles, said Betros was an inspirational mentor in his development.

“Peter is amazing. As soon as the day dawns he is always helping out the club in some way,” Ethan said.

“He is a real leader, and so is (Highfields junior president) Shaun Spies. They are real inspirations to me and have both taken me under their wing in the first year and helped me out.

“I didn’t find footy until I was 13. I kind of came in late, and I wanted to get involved because I saw the mateship everyone else had at the club since they were in the under 6s.

“I wanted to build that brotherhood with the club just like everyone else.

“I am a simple person. I like doing something physical, whether it be playing or refereeing or running lines. It is better than sitting in Maccas. Anything I do in footy is a lot more fun.”

Ethan said he would like to follow in Betros’ footsteps in football administration.

“I would like to do something as a job that I love and with footy it is all about what you can do and the connections and friendships that you can build,” he said.

“It is all about being reliable and doing the little things first. If you are a good bloke, you find your way.”

Ethan, who now referees after completing a course, did such a good job with the juniors that he was asked to be a touch judge for the seniors. He started off videoing games for the juniors and was so proficient at that they recommended him to do the same role with the seniors.

“Peter Betros put in a good word for him and he has filmed for the South West Emus and the TJRL grand final. That opened up lots of opportunities for him,” Shallon said.

Ethan has also completed a League Safe course.

The Highfields senior club is also doing its best to produce the next Ethan Garton.

“At Highfields we have implemented a Young Guns program where we take 20 young members aged 18 to around 22 and we pay their memberships. In return they go back to junior levels and help out with coaching, League Safe, strapping and even flipping burgers – all fully decked out in their senior gear,” Betros said.

“That is a role model for the juniors and Ethan is somewhat a result of this program.”

To nominate a volunteer or club for the QRL's monthly community awards, click here.