Noel’s talents continue to shine

When  Noel Drew started coaching volleyball at Northmead High School more than 40 years ago, he had zero experience in the sport.

Volleyball coach Noel Drew. Picture: Carmela Roche

• Football unites for 2017
• Champion attitude leads to gold
• Hills net top win

When  Noel Drew started coaching volleyball at Northmead High School more than 40 years ago, he had zero experience in the sport.

“I was sportsmaster at the time at Northmead … I got involved and I liked it because none of the kids had played before, so there was no outside influence,” he said.

Four decades on and the Baulkham Hills coach has led the Baulkham Hills High School’s girls to 13 NSW Combined High School Championships and this December will mark his 32nd trip to the Australian Schools Volleyball Cup in Melbourne.

Drew, a 2013 Pride of Australia nominee, said he still enjoys “starting from scratch”, with many of his volleyball players starting with no prior experience.

“You get the odd one or two who have played before high school but it’s very few,” he said.

“It’s just enjoyable to see them start from being horrible to being very good.”

Drew’s long commitment to volleyball – which includes training four or five mornings per week – has been recognised with life memberships to the Australian Secondary Schools Volleyball Association, the Combined High Schools and the Australian Schools Sports Committee.

Drew was nominated for the Service to Sport award by Baulkham Hills High School teacher Debra Melrose, who said “thousands of students have been inspired by him as a coach, mentor and friend for over 40 years”.

“Noel is quiet, unassuming, a coach of the highest integrity and at 72, still the most inspiring coach to watch and aspire to be like,” she said.

“He instils in all his players tolerance (and) sportsmanship, commanding respect from all those he becomes involved in.”

The awards are proudly sponsored by Rebel.