Pride of Australia Medal 2015: Arthur Maloney has changed hundreds of lives through a passion for boxing

FOR 55 years, Arthur Maloney has been an amateur boxing coach in a small NSW town near Lismore, training youngsters and changing hundreds of lives in the process.

POA Nominee, Arthur Maloney 2/7/15 Arthur Maloney is 72 and has been an ametuer boxing coach for 55 years and has neen nominated for Pride of Australia inspiration medal.Pictured with his students. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

FOR 55 years, Arthur Maloney has been an amateur boxing coach in a small NSW town near Lismore, training youngsters and changing hundreds of lives in the process.

Now 73, he still trains three days a week, and after years of doing it free, now charges just $2 a session to cover the rent.

Mr Maloney said one of his former student was now a head coach at the Australian Institute of Sport, and another had become the first woman to win boxing gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Changed hundreds of lives.... Arthur Maloney

“I started boxing very young. My dad was very interested in it and I had my first fight when I was 12 in 1953,” he said.

“I boxed for 13 years and had 80 amateur bouts, winning 62 out of 80.

NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL

“Now I have 100 kids a year go through the gym. Not all of them take it on but they all get a lot from it, and I really enjoy helping them.”

The Goonellabah grandfather said he had been both friend and mentor to many over the years, an honour earning him an Inspiration Medal nomination in this year’s Pride of Australia awards, proudly supported by ClubsNSW.

“I think I provide a lot of guidance. A lot of parents say, ‘my kid needs straightening out’, and the kids really love it and parents say it makes a big difference to them,” he said.

“I love to teach them from knowing nothing about it, to being able to box, and it gives them encouragement. They give me a lot of pride. It’s nice to be nominated.”

During the nomination period, ending on July 19, The Daily Telegraph will shine a light on each state’s exceptional nominees. In the past 10 years we have shared more than 19,500 stories and awarded more than 550 medals across the nation.

Nominations are received across 10 categories including Inspiration, Child of Courage, Bravery and Community Spirit.

To nominate someone you know, visit prideofaustralia.com.au