Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award – Dave Archbold

31 May 2023

Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award – Dave Archbold

Next month, after 53-years service to athletics in NSW, Dave Archbold will be awarded a Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award at a function at the NSW Community Sports Awards.

Since news emerged of Dave’s award, as host he has been busy in preparations for this weekends NSW Cross Country Relays at Upjohn Park, Rydalmere. Dave leads a small team which are hosts of the event which this Saturday holds its 11th NSW winter championship – nine short course XC and two XC relays. Dave Archbold works tirelessly behind the scenes attending to many details, including one key aspect liaising with the local council for the event.

David Archbold’s journey in athletics started at UTS Norths as a 12-year-old school athlete in ‘50s. A few years later he became the Club’s Vice-Captain. In 1970 he started a 41-year club committee involvement with UTS Norths. He served as President from 1999 to 2004-05, and club Vice-President from 1988 to 1993 and 2005-06 to 2010.

With his interest in electronics, while in his teens, he was responsible for the club’s amplification system. He later studied electrical engineering at UTS. From 1974 to 1994 he was editor and publisher of the club’s newsletter the North Star. For 25-years he managed the running of the canteen at Rotary Field. He also drove the club becoming incorporated.

Over his four decades at UTS Norths, Dave’s service has been extraordinary. The recently published UTS Norths Club history noted:

“With the construction of Rotary Athletics Field in the 1960s, David spent more time there than anywhere else, braving ravenous mosquitoes to ensure the ground was kept in top shape. ‘It’s a fantastic place, a beautiful setting by the river. It’s the best track in NSW - full stop,’ he said in 1999.”

The club history also reported:

“In his annual report of 2004-05, secretary Peter Hampshire said: I must make mention once again of the enormous amount of work which David Archbold does as President. Notionally a president should be the leader and oversee committee members doing the work in their respective portfolios. In David’s case he is always the first to put up his hand to do the job himself - from running the canteen, tidying up storage sheds, removing weeds from the track by hand, cleaning out drainage ditches, opening the track and arranging for equipment to be available to schools which hire the track, making sure the track markings are done on a regular basis, liaising with Willoughby Council to ensure maintenance is done and negotiating major works to be completed and making sure the gate is locked at the end of the day. That is the sort of effort David is prepared to give to the club. Without his devotion and loyalty, things just would not happen.”

Dave was also key in what was one of the longest running suburb competitions – Northern Zone. For decades he was an organiser of competition at the club’s ground – Rotary Field. This along with coordinating club teams for State relays and interclub.

A tireless volunteer for the UTS Norths club, he was named Club Man of the Year in 1966, 1971, 1992 and 2001.

In 2011 Dave moved his club service to the Blacktown Club and also stepped up his involvement with the popular West Metropolitan Cross Country series, which is conducted over winter. For the last decade Dave has been one of the key organisers of the regular cross country competition. Keen to keep the competition going during COVID he developed ingenious plans to enable the competition to continue.

For well over five decades David Archbold has given extraordinary volunteer service to Athletics NSW clubs and the sport in NSW. We thank you for the positive impact you have had on thousands of athletes.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: Dave Archbold (courtesy of David Tarbotton)