Sport

David Wilson has spent a lifetime immersed in the sporting culture of Western Sydney. A proud former Riverstone High School student and long-time local of Riverstone and the Hawkesbury, David’s sporting journey began in the 1960s when he joined the Riverstone Swimming Club as a five-year-old.

He quickly took to swimming “like a fish to water” and continued competing until the age of 17. His love of sport, particularly water sports, also saw him play water polo for the Blacktown men’s team between the ages of 13 and 17. Around the age of 16, David became a pool attendant and lifeguard for Blacktown Council, earning some extra money while doing something he genuinely enjoyed.

David proudly describes himself as a “jack of all trades” when it comes to sport. Growing up during the 1970s and 1980s, he embraced every opportunity to try different sports and admits he was fiercely competitive. Along with rugby league, he played touch football, soccer, hockey, basketball and tennis throughout his school years.

He began playing rugby league for Riverstone at age 12 and also played touch football, which started in Richmond before moving to the inaugural competition at Basil Andrews Sporting Complex in Riverstone. One of his proudest achievements during his younger years was representing Penrith Schoolboys against the Christchurch NZ Schoolboys side.

While playing rugby league for Riverstone, David earned the nickname “Mad Dog”. When asked how he got the nickname, he laughed and explained: “They had the Parramatta wedge back in the day and I used to run at the front bloke’s legs and take them out.”

After finishing high school in 1977, David began working as a butcher at Allambie Heights before starting an apprenticeship with Bush’s at Seven Hills in 1980.

David Wilson in action in 1977vs NZ Schoolboys from Christchurch

David remembers rugby league in the 1970s and 1980s as a much tougher and more tribal game than it is today. Riverstone competed in first division against some of the biggest clubs around, and David said players represented their towns with enormous pride.

“I played for the love of Riverstone. I never wanted to play for anyone else,” he said.

Like many passionate NSW rugby league supporters of the era, Tommy Raudonikis was his favourite player, while Queensland legend Wally Lewis certainly wasn’t.

One of the highlights of David’s sporting career came in 1988 when Riverstone won the second division grand final against Richmond at Penrith Park.

“It was a massive deal back then,” he recalled.

David later switched codes and began playing rugby union for Hawkesbury Valley Rugby Club in 2001 at the age of 40. Remarkably, he went on to play around 260 games for the club.

It was in rugby union that he picked up another nickname — “Snakey” — thanks to the way he wrapped his heavily bandaged leg, which teammates joked looked like a tourniquet.

Over the years, Snakey became much more than just a player at Hawkesbury Valley. He coached for several seasons, served on the committee, ran the barbecue, catered events and eventually became a life member of the club.

After undergoing a knee replacement around 2018-19, David continued playing until his wife Sheree finally convinced him it was time to retire.

“She found out I was still playing after the knee replacement and that was the end of it,” he laughed.

One special memory from his rugby days was sharing the field with his son Jesse for half a season before Jesse moved into higher grades.

These days, Snakey has taken up lawn bowls at Windsor Bowling Club, where he has been playing for the past 18 months.

“I got talked into it while having a drink at the club,” he said.

Currently competing in seventh grade and playing Pennants, David is thoroughly enjoying the new challenge and camaraderie the sport brings. He also pointed out the strength of the club, with Windsor’s fourth grade side winning the competition last season.

Reflecting on a lifetime in sport, David says the friendships and mateship have always been the biggest rewards.

And while he is happy rolling up for Pennants these days, he jokes that if the Commonwealth Games team ever came calling, he would still be willing to give it a crack.