Being a good sport comes naturally to Narrabeen Lakes teacher Nathan Casey
Narrabeen Lakes Public School teacher Nathan Casey doesn’t like to blow his own trumpet. He was surprised and humbled when he was presented with a School Sporting Excellence Association Award at the end of 2025.
He was also surprised to hear Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby singing his praises in Parliament.
The story began with a ‘flattering’ email that school principal Rob Zappia received when Nathan taught at Avalon Public School. The email praised Nathan for his work with school sports following the State Athletics Carnival.
“The email went to my principal and then to Rebecca Wade (school sports coordination officer at the school sports unit),” says Nathan. “I can’t take a compliment very well and I get a bit awkward.
“Next thing Jacqui’s reading (a community recognition statement) in Parliament, and Rebecca’s decided to take it further.”
Nathan was chosen from 168 primary schools in the Sydney North Schools Sports Association and recognised for his ‘exceptional commitment and leadership’ in primary schools athletics in the Sydney North region.
“It was such a special moment for me because it’s something I’m really passionate about,” recalls Nathan. “I can see the rewards that opportunities can provide to kids at all different levels.”
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby praised Nathan in Parliament
The ‘proper enthusiastic legend’ (as one parent described him) was born and bred on the Beaches, where he has lived all his life apart from a few years abroad. He taught at Narrabeen Lakes for nine years, moved to the much larger Avalon Public for six and is now back at Narrabeen Lakes, a small school with about 334 students.
You’ll spot Nathan wearing a Sydney North Schools Sports Association jersey with a whistle around his neck. He also wears many sporting hats within the representative school sport pathway including school sports coordinator, president of the Pittwater Primary Schools Sports Association which has nine schools under its wing, and Sydney North team manager.
Nathan is passionate about sport and the additional benefits it offers students other than being active and healthy.
“It teaches some real-life lessons in terms of building resilience when things don’t work out,” says Nathan.
“Managing disappointment, being resilient and bouncing back is really important.” He adds that working with a team and communicating with fellow teammates are also key benefits.
Nathan says it’s important for students to know how to deal with disagreements and how to be part of a team without feeling they must be the one who always takes the shot.
“One of the biggest life lessons is not only how to be a good loser, but also most importantly how to be a gracious winner at the same time,” says Nathan.
Being an early riser, Nathan usually takes his cavoodle Bear for a ‘quick little walk and a stroll around Collaroy’ before heading to school early so he can get a head start on the day.
“What I love about Narrabeen Lakes is that it’s just a small community school with a really nice heart and that always wants to try,” says Nathan. “One of our mantras is just about getting involved, participating and having a bit of fun at the same time. I really like that culture and ethos here.”
Nathan says it’s ‘really cool’ that he gets to witness the students’ progress through the years, but he doesn’t take all the glory for the sports successes – counting himself lucky to have the support of a wonderful team.
“I’m technically the one that oversees (the sport) but I work with so many great people,” he says.