VALE David Woods (1944-2017)

It is with great sadness that Water Polo NSW learn of the passing of David Woods; Dual Olympian, Life Member of Water Polo Australia, Water Polo NSW and Patron of UTS Balmain Water Polo Club.

FUNERAL NOTICE
Celebrating the Life of David Woods

Date: Thursday 8th June 2017 | Time: 11.00am
Location: Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium
Cnr Plassey and Delhi Roads, North Ryde

David Woods, born in 1944 into a sporting family, grew up and lived in Balmain.

An all-round sportsman, outside of water polo, David also represented New South Wales at swimming and Sydney at rugby union.

David played water polo for Balmain in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He went on to play for his state where he played 130 games for New South Wales and under his captaincy the Blues won five Australian Championships in a nine-year period from 1966 to 1975. At the 1967 Championships he scored a record 43 goals and was voted into the New South Wales Sporting Hall of Fame.

He was the Captain/Coach of New South Wales from 1969 to 1972 and Coach from 1978 to 1980, winning five from seven national championships as coach.

He played for Australia in 176 matches including World Championships and Olympic games. Many of these games he was captain. David represented Australia in Water Polo at two Olympic Games; Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a member of the 1968 team that travelled to Mexico, but were excluded from competing.

In 1981, he coached the Australia Men’s Water Polo team, and from 1991 until 1994 he coached the Australian Women’s Water Polo team. He was made a Life Member of Water Polo Australia in 2009 after serving on the board in various capacities for both Water Polo Australia and Water Polo NSW.

David coached many Balmain teams, including the first-grade women in the 1990s. He took a young side, including Taryn Woods, Bronwyn Smith (née Mayer), Yvette Higgins and Liz Weekes from developing youngsters to key members of the gold medal winning 2000 Women’s Olympic team in Sydney.

His service to the sport extended beyond the pool where he served on the NSW Water Polo Inc Board as Chairman and President and was recognised for his significant contribution to water polo awarded life membership of NSW Water Polo Inc and Water Polo Australia.

The legacy David leaves, particularly at Balmain Water Polo Club is far reaching and will continue for many years to come with his family’s continued involvement and those who have been touched by David’s contribution.

David was not only an outstanding sportsman, coach and Clubman but he was a great family man, and a great friend to us all.

Our deepest sympathies extend to David’s family – wife Judy, children Taryn, Gavin, Cara and their families; sister Patricia Mayer, nieces Bronwyn and Yvette, and nephew Warwick.

David’s loss has been felt right across the entire Water Polo community and our thoughts are with his family, friends and Club mates at this time.