At the recent Australian trials Championship at Meringandan, today’s Volunteer in Focus, Marty Cowdell, achieved a sort of legendary status within his own club as a sort of Mister Fix-It who could clean up messes under pressure, at short notice.
And all because surgery kept him from competing.
Like many of the most appreciated unsung heroes, Marty doesn’t chase the spotlight, but we managed to pin him down long enough to get a few answers out of him, so we could find out a little more.
Q1 What is your most recent volunteer role in motorcycle sport?
During the recent 2025 Australian Trials Championships, I was tasked with managing and looking after our 50 plus volunteer observers over the course of a two-day competition.
Q2 How did you come to find yourself there?
I’ve been involved in Trials from a very young age and due to recovering from recent surgery I was unable to compete in the Australian Championships but I still very much wanted to be involved in the event and support the club (Moto Trials Queensland), the trials community and the officials in running a successful event. As I wasn’t able to observe, myself, I was tasked with assisting in organising the observers and supporting other officials in the running of the event.
Q3 What did you get up to over the course of the weekend ??
During the weekend I had my son assisting me in the other side-by-side buggy. Each day I’d organise the Observers required for each of the 30 sections we had for competitors. We run the observers out to their section prior to the riders start time and make sure all sections where manned ready for the competition to start. During the event we’d transport the event Officials along with the Media around the 30 sections as required. I was also tasked with making repairs to sections as required as well as assisting in anything else that was needed during the running of each days competition.
Q3 Did you enjoy the event and was it satisfying to make that contribution??
I did enjoy the event. It was challenging at times and quite busy but it was rewarding to play my part in assisting the club to run a successful Australian Trials Championship event.
Q4 Do you have any more volunteering planned in the near future?
At a club level yes, there are always volunteers needed with club events; setting up, observing, packing up after events etc. and I’m always happy to help out with my share of the workload.
Q5 Tell us a little more about your club.
The Moto Trials Queensland club is a new club that has been formed out of the amalgamation of two long standing Queensland trials clubs that share the same rider pool. The club is a very friendly family-oriented club with some families having multiple generations all being involved in the club as riders, committee members and volunteers.
The family and community feel of the club also extends outside of trials competition, with club members that share common interests outside of trials, forming new friendships away from trials competition.