By Margaret Maccoll
Thirteen years ago Richard Wakeham was running a panel beating business but when his youngest son started playing softball it changed his life in unexpected ways.
He made the Queensland team and seeing them train Richard found out the local players weren’t being taught the same technical skills needed to excel.
So he started coaching them himself and the results speak for themselves, with several Noosa players now in state and national teams.
Richard is now president of the Noosa District Softball Association. He spends Monday to Thursday afternoons training young players who travel from across the shire and further to participate.
Friday afternoons he trains the upper leagues, Saturdays and Sundays are also taken up with softball and once a month he runs an Academy class.
Why does he do it?
“I just love the kids,” Richard said.
This week Drysdale Funerals selected Richard as their first Local Legend, an initiative they began this year to recognise an exception member of the community.
Richard was nominated to be a local legend by a mother of one of the players.
On Monday Drysdale Funerals local managers of Nambour and Noosa Julie Priddle and Lisa Stanners presented Richard with a $1000 cheque for himself which he aims to use to attend the national competition and a $1000 for the club.
Lisa said it was heartening to recognise someone who didn’t seek the limelight and was directing children toward an activity to make a positive difference in their lives.
