Mother and daughter share volunteering bond

Less than half an hour after Sean'Hope "Seanie" Craig wound up her Interschools journey in her final Division 1 race, she had donned a high-vis vest and was down assisting the cross country officials at Blue Cow to get the following relay events underway.

Seanie joined her mother Jules in officiating, the pair wearing matching glitter which has become something of a signature look for the pair.

"She's the glitter dealer of Interschools!" joked Jules after Seanie explained her fondness for glitter came from time on a student exchange with the Dublin School in New Hampshire where the sparkles were as synonymous as the school colours.

In her final year at Merici College in Canberra, Seanie did not hesitate to step up as a volunteer knowing that she benefitted from others doing the same.

"I love seeing all the little kids smiling and getting involved because it’s why I got into skiing and now I’ve gone on to do other stuff so it’s very cool," she said. "I’ve loved coming up and doing Interschools myself and it obviously doesn’t happen without the volunteers, so making anyone’s racing experience a little bit better is an amazing opportunity.

"I’ve also had the opportunity to have second families from all the volunteers and all my friends’ parents who have been coming up and helping out."

Seanie continues to lead a busy life both on and off the snow, combining top level sport with giving back to her school community. She is a member of the NSW/ACT XC Team and has travelled overseas with a National Development Tour. She is a Sports Captain at Merici where she also runs a Sports Council to get more youngsters involved in physical activities. 

Seanie said that despite her competitive Interschools time coming to an end, she will continue to remain involved as an athlete and volunteer.

"I’ll still race outside of school but I’ll definitely come back and do this [volunteer]," she said. "It’s back to the roots, all the fun, having all the glitter on."

It is hardly a surprise that Seanie has taken so quickly to volunteering as her mother Jules has been the perfect example of how fun it can be.

Jules started volunteering at Interschools a decade ago when Seanie started competing and has been a fixture ever since, in recent times sporting Seanie's glitter as well. She says it has been a pleasure to watch young participants get an opportunity to fall in love with the sport as well as reconnect each year with other parents from across the country.

“So many of these kids haven’t done much cross country skiing before, but they come here and try something they can hold onto for life in a really fun environment," said Jules. “You catch up once a year at Interschools, see their kids, high five the parents, take a photo for them if you can on the start line and get them out there to race."

While most wind up their time volunteering at Interschools when their children finish Year 12, Jules says she will defintiely be back and encourages anyone standing on the sidelines to get involved. 

"Many hands make light work," she said. "There are a number of volunteers in this sport and many sports that are well and truly beyond an age bracket where they should be putting their feet up

"Just get out and get involved because it will give a lot of joy and smiles to yourself.

"It also keeps you warm - you may as well be doing something if you’re standing on the sidelines in the snow!"