EVEN in the hours following his deserved Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award win, rugby league stalwart Steve Kimball preferred to stay out of the spotlight.

For more than 10 years Kimball has played an instrumental, behind-the-scenes role in the transformation of Wagga's rugby league Mecca.

At Saturday's annual Australia Day awards ceremony and concert, Kimball was recognised by his peers and the wider community for his unwavering and selfless dedication to rugby league.

In his current role as the president of Wagga Rugby League, Kimball has overseen upgrades to Equex Park and major work carried out to the junior grounds and facilities at Parramore Park.

In addition to countless hours of administrative tasks, Kimball has never shied away from committing many hours to manual labour.

While his achievements speak for themselves, Kimball still moved to take the attention away from his award win by highlighting the efforts of his fellow nominees.

"I was really surprised to win. When you see the calibre of the people I was nominated alongside; there were some exceptionally dedicated and long-working members of the community up for this award," he said.

"I seriously didn't have anything prepared last night (Saturday night) because I was up against such wonderful people."

Kimball was yesterday still reluctant to accept the praise he was receiving, instead moving to share the award win with the many, tireless volunteers supporting Wagga Rugby League.

"I am prepared to admit we, as a group, have achieved a lot," he said.

"I am very thankful for the position Darryl Kelly left us in and for all the like-minded doers of the community who get in and get things done.

"It's these people who I have forged good friendships with and the camaraderie between the people involved in the administration side of things that has kept me going."

Kimball has always been driven to lend a hand wherever he could, and has previously held positions for Wagga Junior Rugby League and Wagga Brothers Rugby League Club.

"I could never be one of those people who sat on the sideline and didn't help out," he said.

"So when an opportunity arose to lend a hand I wanted to do it."