Sydney Weller has been honoured for his service to rugby league and the community. 

Mr Weller has lived in Nowra “all his life” and said the way he came into the world was a story in itself. 

“I was born on the Nowra bridge in the back of a sulky,” he said. 

“Dad was away at war and mum gave birth to me in the back there.” 

While Mr Weller “never played much” rugby league, he’s been involved in club management roles for decades. 

“My son Adrian played football from a young age so I guess that’s how you could say I got involved,” he said. 

He has served in many roles including, but not limited to, New South Wales South Coast Group 7 Rugby League deputy president, treasurer and director, Nowra-Bomaderry Jets Rugby League Football Club treasurer and Nowra Warriors Senior Rugby League Football Club president, treasurer, committee member and life member. 

Having been involved in committees since Adrian first started playing football, Mr Weller said he didn’t know what he’d be doing if he wasn’t involved in rugby league. 

“Who knows,” Mr Weller said. 

Over the years he’s watched hundreds of games and attend his fair share of functions, but Mr Weller said one the most memorable moments in his career was “sacking a coach” when he was president at Nowra. 

“That was very memorable I can tell you that,” he said. 

“Another memorable time was celebrating 100 of years of rugby league in Nowra in 1993, we put a book together about the history.”

In 2000, Mr Weller won the Australian Sports Medal which he described as “fabulous.” 

When Mr Weller received a letter in March stating that he was being considered for an OAM, he said he was in a state of shock. 

“Well I thought they’d put the wrong name - I thought it should have been my wife.” 

Upon confirmation he’d been welcomed into the Order of Australia, Mr Weller said he was “very humbled” and thanked his peers for the honour.