Pride of Australia Community Spirit medal nominee Dave Allen an inspiration to Woodridge State High School footy team

HE retired five years ago. So why does Dave Allen still turn up to work at 6am ready to start a brand new day?

FIVE years after he retired, Dave Allen is still turning up to work – at 6am every day during the footy season.

The champion rugby league coach doesn’t just arrive with strategy – he brings breakfast for the Woodridge State High School Open Boys team, helps fundraise for kids to travel to national and state competitions, and transports them to and from games if their parents are not able to.

WSHS principal Geoff Sippel said the former physics teacher had helped keep some boys in school because Mr Allen tied school attendance and their effort in the classroom to being a part of the team and was “an incredible man”.

This year the WSHS Open Boys side won the Titans and Country cups but it is Mr Allen’s personal commitment to players that has seen him nominated for the Pride of Australia Community Spirit medal.

“He is very unassuming, he doesn’t like the limelight ... a very humble guy, but what you hear from parents, community members, from the students and that, they just absolutely love him,” Mr Sippel said.

Mr Allen said his greatest satisfaction was seeing kids motivated to succeed.

“I really get huge enjoyment through taking kids through stages of development ... developing their perseverance, fanning their motivation,” he said, adding he loved transforming weaknesses into strengths, both physically and mentally.

Do you know a local legend? Click here to nominate them for a Pride of Australia award.