Try this, Clarrie – a hero award

BY ANDREW MATHIESON
SIXTY-three-year-old Clarrie Kerger played the boards when basketball was different to the hoopla it is today.
Back then the three-point arc was a fanciful concept and referees still made travel calls.
For the self-proclaimed “little street kid”, basketball kept Clarrie out of trouble after he came across Try Boys brigade, which allowed him to play for free.
Clarrie’s name is now synonymous with Try Boys after steering the institution from four teams to eight on his arrival as a coach in 1970 and to the 37 teams playing now.
“I don’t have the input as much as I used to have but my passion for the brigade and what it stood for over all those years is still strong,” he said.
Clarrie is this week’s recipient of the Alcoa Community Heroes Award, sponsored by the Independent.
He is now in the running for an annual award of $3000 and an interstate holiday.
To nominate someone for the Community Heroes award, visit Geelong Volunteer Resource Centre of download a form at www.communityheroes.com.au.