Celebrating Riverstone’s Woman Of The Year: Belinda Mckinlay
BELINDA MCKINLAY—affectionately known as Bel—is one of Riverstone’s most cherished community volunteers. Her tireless work and dedication have made an incredible impact, particularly through her leadership of the Schofields Crusaders Junior Rugby League Club.
For the past three years, Belinda has been the driving force behind the club, which she started alongside her husband, Rob, in 2022. In Rob’s words, they began the Crusaders “with nothing but hopes and dreams.” Today, it is one of the fastest-growing rugby league clubs in the state, an incredible achievement built on Belinda’s passion and determination.
Under her stewardship, the club has grown to 18 teams in just two seasons, culminating in the club being named the Jan Cameron Club Champions of 2024 in the Penrith District. Belinda not only serves as the club’s treasurer but also oversees registrations, manages the canteen, and, as a crowning achievement, led the Under 13 premiership-winning team of 2024.
Her extraordinary dedication has not gone unnoticed. In recognition of her contributions, Belinda was awarded Riverstone’s Woman of the Year at the 2025 NSW Government Women of the Year Awards. She also received the Ian Robinson Volunteer of the Year within the Penrith Junior Rugby League Association.
But Belinda’s impact extends far beyond the Crusaders. While balancing her club responsibilities, she has also played a crucial role in assisting other rugby league clubs with their financial governance. All of this has been accomplished while maintaining a professional career spanning 15 years as a data analyst.
Community volunteers like Belinda are the backbone of our local sporting clubs, schools, and charities. They work tirelessly behind the scenes, often with little recognition or reward, driven purely by their passion and commitment to making a difference. Their contributions shape not just teams and organisations but the broader community fabric.
Volunteering is one of the most selfless causes, there is no pay and often little recognition but the reward of making a tangible difference to the lives of people around us is incalculable. Rolling up your sleeves and making a positive contribution to our community through volunteer work is also a great way to meet new friends.
At the heart of any community lies our people, especially those who foster grass root connections, adding to the vibrancy of the places we call home. Why not give it a try?
