Friends and family gathered on Friday to celebrate the life of a man who touched the lives of many through his teaching career and his involvement with rugby league in Nambour as a player, coach, administrator and reporter for The Chronicle newspaper. 

It was with great sadness that the family shared news of the unexpected passing of Vince Nipperess. 

His funeral was held Friday (August 19) at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Nambour. It was followed by a wake at the Nambour Crushers Rugby League Club.  

Mr Nipperess played for Souths Rugby League Football Club from 1954-56, and 1959. He played representative football for Sunshine Coast, started inter-primary school rugby league in 1960, and was foundation President of the Sunshine Coast Junior Rugby League in 1961-62. He wrote media reports on senior Sunshine Coast games for 15 years and was instrumental in fielding the schoolboys six stone weight division team in the Vic Jensen Zone 3 competition. 

He was also a selector for Sunshine Coast, a Sunshine Coast Judiciary member, and the  foundation secretary/treasurer of the Wide Bay Junior  Rugby League.

He was a life member Souths RLFC and SCGRL and a life member Zone 3 Vic Jensen Schoolboys Rugby League. In 2011 he was inducted into the SCGRL Hall of Fame for his extraordinary contribution to Rugby League on the Coast.

He was also a much loved sports school teacher for many many years and was loved by all he taught. There was an outpouring of sympathy on Facebook at the news of his passing, with Mr Nipperess described in hundreds of comments as a great man, teacher and footy coach. 

Former Olympian Benny Pike described him as a “Great local league supporter, loyal and generous writter of weekend’s main game.  Always fair.”

Past students remembered Mr Nipperess fondly  on Facebook. The sad news attracted over 500 comments . Some are included here:

•  “Oh my – I am so sad. Mr Nipperess was my all-time favourite teacher. Listened to my first horse race with him in Year 6. He’s the reason I became a teacher – God bless him.”

• “An incredible man who made so many lives better.”

• “He used to make up rhymes using my last name & one day pretended to throw me out the window. Loved the man.”

• “I’m so sad at the news of the loss of my friend, my schoolteacher. Vince was a beautiful man with a big heart. We will miss you at our school reunion next month.”

• “My everlasting memory of Vince was him diving in to save a drowning student at the school swimming carnival – clothes & all. He dived in, missing all the lane ropes right across to the middle lane to affect the rescue. What a hero.”

Mr Nipperess was born in Nambour on 5th June 1936 to parents Russell & Mary. He had 4 siblings who have all predeceased him – two sisters Pat and Ray & 2 brothers Russell (Boy) & Roy. 

His father Russell was one of the true pioneers of the Sunshine Coast owning & operating a bullock-powered road train, with views of the team hauling logs through the main street quite common at the time. Mary volunteered for many local organisations including Souths Rugby League Club, CWA & Show Society, whilst raising their family & working 2 jobs.

Mr Nipperess’s lifetime of high achievement began at St Josephs Church. He and his family were very honored when he was chosen to be an Altar Boy, and then to participate in the laying (and subsequent blessing by Archbishop Dugig) of the foundation stone of the church. This led to a lifetime connection to the Catholic faith.

He was awarded a small bursary to attend Marist Brothers College at Ashgrove in Brisbane in recognition of his primary school scholastic achievements. 

His mother Mary then took on two jobs to ensure both Vince & Roy would enjoy a full secondary school education and to ensure the rest of the family was well provided for, during those very tough years.