Wal Lehmann

The Wal (Wayne) Lehmann Story:

Wal Lehmann is undoubtedly one of NHC’s best known & loved characters. Whether it be from his early days in the 80’s as a young goalkeeper with constantly changing hairstyles to his Presidential years in the 90’s or his return to the playing field in 2012 with a new name & position - he has been a dyed in the wool Nuri hockey club man.

In the early 1980’s, Wal or Wayne as he was then more commonly known, was the standout goalkeeper in the association, keeping in the Club's first 2 A Grade premierships in 1982 & 1983.

In 1985, Wal along with many Nuri players went off to field a team (BVHT) in the Adelaide competition, the first year as goalkeeper and then as a field player.

Wal returned to NHC after a shortened 3 year sojourn with the BVHT and took up the vacant coaching role for one season.  Then in 1989 Wal took a new direction and ventured off to play footy for a year.  The hockey bug bit again and he returned to the BVHT in 1990 to play again with some old mates, for the next 2 years.

The travel was enough and Wal returned again to Nuri to Coach the A-Men to success on Grand Final day - ending an 8 year wait - an outstanding result for a team without a true centre half for the second half of the season, Wal continued to coach the A Men in 1993.

The 1994 AGM changed Wal’s direction and focus for the next 4 years by reluctantly accepting the role of Club President.  The first item Wal tackled was to maintain the cost of junior fees for 5 years - this enabled more working families to participate in the sport.  During this time, the Club added a full-field team each year - they needed to have coaches, uniforms and goalkeeping equipment.  Wal and his family, moved to Adelaide in May 1994, this placed much more responsibility on other executive members to ensure the day to day operations were happening.  Along this journey, more players from the BVHT filtered back to Nuri and they all contributed to playing, coaching, umpiring and mentoring younger players.

The Club had an interesting relationship with the caretaker body at Stockwell Recreation Park, Wal and a number of interested club people made a significant impact on this committee for 2 years - engaging in healthy debate, and looking to make improvements to the Clubrooms and park surrounds.

A change in Sponsorship direction allowed Nuri to engage in a long and fruitful Sponsorship with the Vine Inn Hotel - Wal was a driving force in this troubled time of negotiation, offer and counter offer.  Wal believed that the club was a product of worth and integrity and was a marketable commodity.

Success was also starting to build, the momentum was growing and Wal was a driving force behind the club’s return to prominence both on & off the field.

Wal continues to be an active member of our club both as a player, manager, administrator and delegate.

Of Wal’s many contributions to NHC his most important is undoubtedly character & spirit.

It is hard to think of anyone else who defines the soul of our club more than Wal Lehmann.

The Fourth Life Member of Nuriootpa Hockey Club  -  Wal Lehmann