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Ned as he was known was born at Wanget via Chichester NSW in 1922 the son of Annie and Angelo Marchese. In 1929 Annie married George
Abraham Andrews and Ned was adopted by George and Ned took the name of Andrews. He was educated in the Newcastle area and worked as a rigger in the heavy machinery shop of the State Dockyards at Newcastle and was a member of the F.I.A. union for many years and served in many ways during the whole of his working life. He received the O.A.M for his services to the union movement. Ned was a noted Rugby League footballer in the Newcastle area and mainly played in the position of five eight and at times centre. He played all his early football with Souths at Newcastle. In 1950-51 he went to MacKay Queensland as the MacKay District Coach and then to Dorrigo NSW as player coach in 1953-55 and then to Coffs Harbour NSW as player coach 1956-62. He
represented in Country Football in 1946,1948 and 1949,NSW Country 1948 ,NSW Possibles V Probables 1948 and the State of Queensland in 1950.He played for Australia in the second test in Brisbane against England in 1950. After his playing career he coached Junior teams in Football including the team in which his son Ron played. Ned is a trustee of the International Sports Centre at Newcastle since 1974 and has recently been specially appointed due to his age until the year 1999 at which time he will be 77 years of age. The normal retiring age for a trustee is 70 years. Ned served 4 years in the AIF during World War II,26 months overseas in the Pacific. Ned was married in November 1944 to Nora Wedesweiler and there are 3 children of the marriage,one son Ronald and two daughters,Patricia and Janette. Ned during his active union days led a delegation to Parliament House to meet the Prime Minister,who had agreed to see the delegation,but upon arrival the Prime Minister changed his mind. Ned and his delegation then staged a sit-in in parliament house and the Police were called to remove the delegation. When the Police arrived and requested them to leave Ned explained to the Police that the Prime Minister had agreed to see the delegation and upon their arrival he changed his mind. Ned told the Police they were not moving until they met the Prime Minister. In other words they could do it the easy way or the hard way,meaning they would have to be forcibly removed. A hasty conference was then held with the Police and parliamentary officials and Ned had his way.The Prime Minister agreed to see him and discuss the matters which were seriously concerning the union members. Ned is a very keen bowler and plays regularly each week and of course still follows both the Sydney Rugby League Competition as well as the strong Newcastle competition. He is a keen Newcastle Knights supporter,hence his interest in the International Sports Centre,the home ground of the Knights. There would be very few members of the family who could match the sporting and community service achievements of Ned Andrews.
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