It’s a little unusual that the person displaying qualities like respect and enthusiasm as the 2024 NSWRL Gordon Lowrie Volunteer of the Year award has the nickname ‘Killa’.
But that’s the world of Khalil Kouayder from the Greenacre Tigers Junior Rugby League Club, who is a deserved winner of the prestigious annual award.
In truth he is displaying a no holds barred style at this end-of-season time of year by not only winning the Gordon Lowrie honour, but also the NSWRL regional Central Sydney volunteers award, and the NRL’s Community Awards Volunteer of the Year.
“I don’t know how … they just came one after another to be honest with you. I didn’t do anything special,” Kouayder told nswrl.com.au.
So where did the Killa nickname come from?
“With my culture and background, when I was a young kid my coaches were Australian and hadn’t had much to do with the Lebanese community.
“With the pronunciation of Khallil they struggled a bit, so it ended up being Killa. I liked it and it’s stuck ever since.”
Kouayder already has a full-on week as Grades 9-12 teacher at Sir Joseph Banks High School.
But the Greenacre Tigers club secretary since 2016, is also at training sessions and games every Wednesday, Friday nights plus Saturdays and Sundays. For A grade ‘away’ matches he’s the trainer and for ‘home’ games he is ground manager and first aid officer.
“I just love the club. It has a great family vibe and culture around it that we’ve all put-in to build.
“It brings a positive, togetherness feeling. Obviously there will be ups and downs, but it is always a fun place to be around because every single one of us – committee member, coach, parent, volunteer, player – are just happy to be there.
“We’ve all got each other’s backs. Sure I get phone calls from coaches or parents wanting to debate things at times but there’s always respect.”
Kouayder said it wasn’t hard to instil good sportsmanship and core values at the club.
“It’s all about good communication top to bottom and all the way through. With my teacher background I’ve developed the skill of getting to understand the views of a range of people and finding that common ground for all to move forward.
“Dealing with high school kids has stood me in good stead to deal with parents, coaches or players who have different ways of wanting to do things at times.
“At the end of the day I can be firm but I do it in a nice way – and always a respectful way. It’s important to have their voices heard because it all contributes to our code of conduct, the Tigers way of all being on the same page.”
Kouayder’s parents migrated to Australia from Lebanon, before settling in Marrickville in the late 1960s.
“We grew up surrounded by footy and Rugby League became a way for us to connect, and build relationships and acceptance with the locals.
“Rugby League has always been dominant in the Lebanese community but there’s obviously a large number of people who follow soccer too.
“But I’ve been playing Rugby League since I was five years old. I started with a club that no longer exists, in the Camperdown Dragons in the South Sydney competition.
“I started at Greenacre when I was 10 years-old. It was friends from my primary school who encouraged me to sign up.
“Back then it was called the Greenacre Grasshoppers but then the name changed to the Tigers. We’re very proud and conscious of our history – it’s another thing that binds us as a club.”
