WPNSW Life Member Tribute - Bruce Falson
Published Fri 03 Aug 2018
This week WPNSW farewelled Bruce Falson (affectionately known as Brew) with a packed funeral service at Woronora South Chapel befitting a man who had such an enormous impact on so many. Around 300 people gathered to celebrate the life one the best Australia’s Water Polo coaches.
Bruce was awarded the honour of Life Membership of WPNSW in 2012 for his services to the sport. In his roles of NSW Coaching Director and National Junior Womens Coach for 15 years, Bruce helped shaped the Women’s Water Polo pathway program to the high standard that it is today. Affiliated with ACU Cronulla Sharks Water Polo Club, Bruce also coached club teams at a State and National level and in the process influenced the sporting careers and lives of many people.
“Today is a sad day but also a fantastic time to remember with family and friends someone who touched our lives in so many different ways. I am honoured to be here today, proud to have known Brew and to have had him in my life,” said WPNSW Director, Bec Rippon, who made a personal tribute at the funeral.
“Brew had the ability to make us all believe that we could do anything and be anything. He made us believe we could beat anyone. Talking to some of my old team mates this week and they have all shared their gratitude to having had a coach that believed in them while they were growing up. Everyone felt supported and confident because of the way that he coached us all and from the way he managed to bring out the best in everyone individually and as a team. Brew also knew how to make a team bond and be strong together. He had a way of making the age or skill gap not even be noticed,” Bec added.
The eulogy was delivered by lifelong friend Peter Kerr AM, a WPNSW Life Member, while John Zagame’s, Cronulla Sharks Water Polo Club President, tribute spoke about the significant contribution Bruce devoted to the sport at Club, State and National levels.
“Bruce coached Cronulla’s first ever 1st Grade premiership winning team in 1975-76, after competing in three Grand Finals, defeating Universities 5-4. Since then our Club has gone from strength to strength and reflects Brew’s passion and commitment to support our players and offer them the best learning and development pathways possible,” he said.
“Bruce was the sort of coach that would invest in his players. He was such an insightful and intelligent man. Even if only one who would turn up to training, he would give them a full session. His dedication to the sport at all levels – club, state and national – benefited so many athletes, many who went on to represent Australia at the Olympic Games. His record in developing the players as well as achieving wide scale success on the international stage was remarkable and he will be sorely missed by so many,” he finished with.
Bruce had a goal to improve anyone would were willing to put in the time and commitment to train. According to John, in Bruce’s words, he said:
“It doesn’t matter if 1 or 10 people turn up, it is still just as important to that 1 person. I always coached that way.”
Bruce has left a legacy that will live on forever for Water Polo n Australia. In Bec’s concluding thoughts from her tribute, she stated:
“So many players who came through under Brew are now involved as coaches and administrators in all levels of our sport. He has shown us how to treat players with respect, dignity and fairness even when they are not going to be selected. He has shown us how to be creative in our thinking and to challenge what other people say things should be done.
He has shown us that taking a risk with players is not a bad thing. He has shown us that you prove your point on selection with not just the results but also the culture that the team has – when everyone wants to be a part of it and wants to do their part for it. He has shown us that water polo is a sport that is hard, tough, disappointing at times – yet is fun and worth everything that you put into it.
Brew leaves a legacy that I am grateful to have been impacted by and if I can leave even 1/10th of the players I work with feeling the same and loving the sport the same way then I will feel I have done a good job.”