Chain Valley Bay resident, Mr Neville Glover, has been honoured with an Order of Australia for services to Rugby League.
Mr Glover’s services include: Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club Player, 1975-1981, being named in the ‘Team of the Century’, 2001, Player, Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club, 1983, Represented Australia and NSW, 1978; Men of League Foundation member since 2008; Active Member, Tuggerah Lakes Committee; Coach, Wyong Rugby League Football Club, for many years; and, an active supporter and fundraiser for a number of charities including: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Cystic Fibrosis, Camp Quality, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Make-A- Wish Australia. Mr Glover was also Senior Sergeant, Prosecuting Branch, New South Wales Police Force, until 2017, and a NSW Officer from 1981- 2017. He was a recipient of the New South Wales Police Medal, 2013 and Police Prosecutor of the Year, 2008. Mr Glover said he never expected any kudos for his charity work, much less an OAM.
“I really wasn’t expecting this. “I just do the charity work I do because I like helping people less fortunate than myself,” he said. Mr Glover started playing Rugby League at the age of 7 and stuck with it all throughout his youth. “I started with the Eels and then spent nine years in the NRL,” Mr Glover said. But after a time, Mr Glover began thinking about a career with a little more security. “After a while, I began thinking of the long haul and I always knew football wasn’t gonna last forever.” Mr Glover recalled the conversation that sparked his interest in the NSW Police Force. “I never wanted to be a labourer as my father was one, and I was thinking about what I could potentially do as a career move.
“I had a police officer living two doors up from me at the time and we had a chat about it. “He said he reckoned I’d make a good police officer and that was that,” he said. Mr Glover played first grade and worked as a police officer for a few years before another career move in 1984 saw him become a court constable. Not long after, Mr Glover was promoted to a court prosecutor and came to the Central Coast in 1996 as the region’s head prosecutor. During this time, Mr Glover coached junior league and league teams across Wyong and Cessnock. Nowadays, Mr Glover likes to spend his time with his charitable endeavours. “I do a lot of stuff with the Men of League, I get around and see what functions they have and try to be of help however I can,” he said.
Source: Interview, Feb 5 Neville Glover, Chain Valley Bay Dilon Luke, Journalist