Jacqueline Devereaux was studying at university when she saw a newspaper advertisement to become a motorsport official. Turning the page of that newspaper became ever more poignant, as it set Devereaux up to a life dedicated to officiating at motorsport events.

Whilst motorsport had always been a passion for Devereaux, and her first time as a volunteer in Canberra formally introduced her to the world of officiating.

She soon realised that the opportunities in motorsport are immense, and grasped every chance to get involved in as many events as possible – building on a common tale of events from Motorsport Australia’s volunteer community.

“We all do officiating for the racing because we love it,” Devereaux said.

“It’s a great way to be involved in and contribute to the sport and ultimately, you keep seeing the same officials everywhere you go, so it becomes like a family away from your family.

“That’s what keeps most people coming back, though at heart we’re all diehard racing fans.”

Like many of the more than 11,000 Motorsport Australia Officials, Devereaux was one of the nearly 1000 officials who volunteered at the 2025 Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix, serving as Deputy Chief Marshal.

“We looked after all the trackside marshals, including flag marshals, sector marshals, radio communications, observers and track marshals,” Devereaux said.

“We’re responsible for deploying them, determining their positions, and ensuring their safety and wellbeing trackside.”

Locally, Devereaux has fulfilled numerous roles from being a Chief Marshal, Sector Marshal, Assistant Secretary, Recovery, and Safety Car Community. Her experiences in these fields has also taken her to numerous events from the Bathurst 1000, and Mount Panorama’s numerous endurance variants, Adelaide 500, Gold Coast 500, right through to the NSW State Motor Race Championship.

This experience has also taken Devereaux to other parts of the world, volunteering at such events as the Singapore, United States, and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, Petit Le Mans, 24 Hours of Spa, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The best way to get started as an official is to give it your all and seize every opportunity.

“Just come and give it a go,” Devereaux said.

“There’s a role for everybody and you never know where it might lead, so come try it if you have any interest in motorsport.

“Experiment with different roles until you find what suits you. Even if it’s not what you initially wanted to do, give it a chance as you might discover your dream role.

“The people you meet and skills you learn will help you progress to where you want to be.”

Become a Motorsport Australia Official.