• 2012 Life Member Award
• 1998 Service Award

2011 Life Member

Bill Turnbull has been involved with volleyball in New Zealand at all levels. For many years he was an extremely successful school coach at Kings High School and then transferred to St Paul’s High School which later became Kavanagh College. All these school teams frequently gained medal placings at National Championships. Bill was also instrumental in developing the local school competition and it would be fair to say that the majority of school coaches in Dunedin have at some stage benefitted from Bill’s guidance. He has been extremely generous in the time he devoted to schools volleyball.
Bill has been instrumental in ensuring that the new school gymnasiums built in Dunedin over recent years are volleyball compatible and friendly. When Bill moved from teaching to take over Unipol Recreation and later Recreation Services for Otago University, his commitment to Volleyball never wavered.
Bill was a foundation member of the Scorpion Volleyball Club in the 1970’s. From that time and because of Bill’s energy the Club has grown in strength and status. He has been a formidable stalwart of the club ensuring the players have access to resources and support necessary to compete at the highest level. The sound basis of the Club is almost entirely due to Bill’s careful management of finances. Bill was responsible both directly and indirectly in coaching both the Scorpion Men’s and Women’s teams.
Bill served on the Management Committee of Volleyball NZ in the 1980’s and as Vice President 1989-91 and in 1995. Bill coached the NZ Universities team which travelling to Japan for World University Games.
At all levels of the game, we recognise Bill’s contribution through his determined and persistent approach to the issues confronting the Volleyball community in NZ. It has been said that one cannot have a volleyball conversation with Bill Turnbull, without being overwhelmed by his passion and commitment to volleyball.
Bill’s impact on and devotion to the game of volleyball in New Zealand spans more than 30 years.