Remembering Walter Lebedew

14 February 2023

Walter Lebedew was a visionary who dedicated his life to the growth and development of volleyball in Australia, and we are deeply saddened to hear of his passing.

He was a true trailblazer in the sport, and his contributions will forever be remembered and celebrated.

Living through the midst of World War II and surviving the hardships of the German invasion of Russia, Walter went on to immigrate to Australia with his family. Finding a love for various sports in Australia, Walter chose to pursue a newfound ambition in administration for volleyball and soccer. From scratch, he taught himself to play and referee volleyball and went on to organise the first Australian Volleyball Championships in 1963. Despite the lack of indoor facilities, difficulty obtaining balls, and promotion through word of mouth, Walter persevered and worked tirelessly to expand the sport.

Thanks to his efforts, the National Women's competition commenced in 1964, and he went on to organise the first-ever Asian championships in Melbourne, where Australia achieved a remarkable fourth-place finish in both the men's and women's competitions. For six years, Walter wrote and produced the Australian Volleyball Journal, and both of his sons went on to have successful careers in volleyball. Both sons have gone to coach at the Olympic Games and multiple World Championships, primarily in indoor, but have also coached beach respectively.

Walter was the founder of Volleyball South Australia and was awarded the first-ever VSA life membership, and was rightfully considered the father of the Australian Volleyball Federation. In 1985, Wally received the prestigious title of Order of Australia (OAM) for services to volleyball.

In an interview from 2008, he expressed his pride in his contribution to Australian life, and it is clear that his legacy will live on for generations to come.

In memory of Walter "Wally" Lebedew (OAM), we celebrate his remarkable achievements and pay tribute to the man who paved the way for the sport of volleyball in Australia. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten ❤️

For those interested in Wally's story, he recently published his memoir here:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/walkiri-valery-walter-lebedew/one-familys-story/hardcover/product-gp47dj.html?page=1&pageSize=4