VALE ROSSO

Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 April 2012 12:30 Written by Administrator Tuesday, 03 April 2012 12:20

VALE ROSSO

Sadly John (Ivo) Rosso passed away on Sunday 1st April 2012 after a long illness at the age of 78.

John Rosso, with two other friends, started a volleyball gathering in Geelong in 1959 that has now blossomed into the game that it is today. Arguably, John was instrumental in establishing and    developing the sport in Victoria if not Australia in those early years, and for the last 45 years he has involved himself in the playing, coaching, refereeing and administration of the sport.

In the early years the sport was enjoyed by European migrants and as the sport gained momentum and notoriety, players of Australian extraction started to participate and enjoy the game. During the sixties, John (or Rosso as he is so eloquently referred to) began to organize the competition with a view to formalizing it.

In the late seventies through the eighties, Rosso had assembled a number of girls that he coached into a formidable combination, that were virtually unbeatable at championship events for a number of years. The successes of his efforts amount to 14 Womens Country Championship titles and as many for the mens squad.

Of the women he coached during this period, 4 of them were in the starting six at National Junior level. One of these players was his daughter, Carmen Rosso.

Some of the players that he coached are;

Ted Kalkhoven, Carmen Rosso, Doris Petrevcic, Slavika Semjanov, Natalie Petkovic, Luba Stawiski, Sonia Javni, Helen Kalkhoven, Nick Kalkhoven

Rosso had been very active in the coaching arena and he was active in volleyball as late as last year. He passed his wisdom and knowledge on to all aspiring coaches and players. He was a founding Life member of Geelong Amateur Volleyball Association and also a Life member of VVI.
He is survived by his wife Albina, daughter Carmen and two grand children.