Neville Brough swimming coach remembered by family and friends on Gold Coast

Former swimming coach Neville Brough will be remembered as “one of a kind” when family and friends today pay tribute to a rich life.

FORMER swimming coach Neville Brough will be remembered as “one of a kind” when family and friends today pay tribute to a rich life.

Mr Brough died on Sunday at a Runaway Bay nursing home. He was 92.

Born in 1926 in Brisbane, Mr Brough moved to the Gold Coast in 1948 with his wife Noela. He became well known throughout the Gold Coast as a swimming instructor at The Southport School and St Hilda’s School.

Neville Brough.

He also coached his two children, son Greg Brough and daughter Jo-Anne Horne.

Greg won a bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He passed away in 2014.

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Noela passed away in 2011.

Neville Brough in his younger years with his children. Photo: Supplied.

Neville Brough when he was younger. Photo: Supplied.

Ms Horne told the Bulletin it was almost like her father had two sides to him — the legendary swimming coach and simply “Dad”.

“We’ve always been very, very close,” she said.

“We trained 10 times a week and had swimming club and carnivals.

“During the winter months, there weren’t any heated swimming pools back then, Dad took over the domestic chores. He was always a very good cook.”

Mr Brough was a captain for the Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Club in 1947 and 1948. Photo: Supplied.

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Mr Brough helped run the family business, a motel in Mermaid Beach complete with a 25m swimming pool. Noela also ran a made-to-measure clothing boutique store.

Mr Brough was also a keen surf lifesaver, Ms Horne said. He was captain of the Surfers Paradise Club in 1947 and 1948.

Even in retirement Mr Brough was busy.

“He had a very active social life, he was always going out,” Ms Horne said.

“He enjoyed fishing, they had a holiday house at Moreton Island.

“He had a very, very fulfilling life. He left his mark on a lot of people in a very positive way. He was one of a kind.”