NZ Marist 2009 Personality of the Year

This award was presented for the first time at the NZ Marist AGM to David Neame of Greymouth Marist for the 2009 season.

This award recognises David's overall contribution to the Greymouth Marist RFC. David's playing record at senior and senior reserve level dates back 20 years from 1990-2010, and he has continued unbroken through to West Coast club finals season 2009.

David has been a team captain at both senior reserve, and senior level. He is a tireless trainer, and even at the age of 37, he is one of the most professional players our club has ever seen. At pre season trainings, he pushes and encourages the younger players to realise their potential, and that is such a valuable asset for any club to have.

In the days where most senior sides field teams with a youthful look about them, the experience, wisdom and knowledge of having a stalwart like David in the team is most invaluable.

David was selected for the NZ Marist Colts in 1993, and the coaching and experience of that tour, helped David grow into the fine club man that we have today.

David has represented and captained the West Coast senior team, and all up has 16 caps for the senior rep team.

Off the field, David's contribution has included committee service, tireless fundraising hours and the executive post as current club captain.

David has also over the years has coached several school boy teams, and been very popular with our school boys. As a player, at no stage has the David fallen foul of referees or disciplinary panels, nor has he devoted any less than 100 percent support to club management, promotion and administration.

The nominee is a funeral director and as such is at the mercy of death's schedule - a schedule with little regard for match and practice. He does however still manage to make practically every training and game. In 2009, David was one of the driving forces behind setting up a Greymouth Marist R.F.C golden oldie side, and this was a huge success.

We now have a database of former players from around New Zealand that come back to Greymouth for our games, and having this team shows the true Marist spirit, and what it means to the former players to still feel a part of our club. It is also very healthy for the club coffers, especially for our clubrooms when we have a home match, so we have a lot to be thankful to David for this.

David is also a very popular person not only in the club, but West Coast wide, and a facebook group has been set up for David, which now boasts over 600 members worldwide. In it are photos and video clips featuring David, and an interview with current All Black hooker Andrew Hore from the 2009 Steinlager Rugby awards, giving David some advice on his career. We feel David deserves this recognition for his services to the Greymouth R.F.C, is a most fitting tribute to David as he enters the end of his long playing service to the Greymouth RFC.

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