NHA VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH-(MAY) GARY WILSON

Nelson Hockey would like to recognize Gary Wilson as NHA volunteer of the month -(MAY).

Gary Commenced playing hockey in Timaru in the mid 1960’s at the age of around 9 or 10 representing South Canterbury.

Then he moved to Nelson in 1967 and played for Nelson College whilst attending there.

Moved to Palmerston North in 1971 to commence work and played there. Moved around NZ over the next few years playing in Nelson and Wellington and then moved to the UK in 1978 and played for the Hendon Hockey Club for two seasons

After that he moved back to Nelson in 1981 and commenced playing for the Federal Hockey Club and started coaching kids in 1983/ 1984 and continued playing and coaching with the Federal Hockey Club until 1995.

He became a committee member of Federal Hockey in the mid/late 80s’ ish and President for the first time in 1992.

Gary served on the Nelson Hockey Association (NHA) committee for a few years from the late 80’s and then took a break from hockey whilst living in the USA from 1995 to 1999.

He got back into hockey in 2000 and became involved in hockey administration with the NHA and Federal Hockey. Started coaching kids again, became President of the Federal Hockey club and remained president for another 10 years.

When on the NHA committee he became involved with the development of the second artificial playing surface (blue water turf). This involved fund raising and coordination with the Nelson City and Tasman district councils and culminated with the second turf construction in 2006.

He began playing master’s Hockey for Nelson in the late1990’s and continued to coach kids (typically divisions 4, 5 and 6) throughout and became involved in developing the Nelson Hockey Pavilion and, along with Allan Matheson and others, got the funding together and the pavilion was opened in 2009.

He have continued to play, coach and manage teams most years since he still play and coach today.

He is a Life member of the Nelson Hockey Association and the Federal Hockey Club.

Thank You very much for all you have done for Nelson Hockey Association and congratulations on this recognition.

Thank you very much Gary!