Dave Campbell is the facility manager of the Splash Centre. Photo / Lewis Gardner
Dave Campbell is the facility manager of the Splash Centre. Photo / Lewis Gardner
Dave Campbell has been the facility manager of the Splash Centre for the past seven years and provided the radio commentary for Steelform Whanganui rugby games from 2008 to 2018, sitting alongside veteran sports broadcaster Grant McKinnon for eight of those years.
He answered all 10 questions the Chronicle threwat him, just in time for this week's Monday Q&A.
What is your favourite thing to do in Whanganui?
Where do I start? On a Saturday afternoon during winter there's no better place than the Kaierau Country Club watching some code. I refer to it as the black hole; once you get in there, it's hard to get out.
In a perfect Dave Campbell world which musical artists would feature on a Splash Centre playlist and why?
Not sure we would subject the patrons to my eclectic taste in music. I've always loved music which is why my first career back in the 1900s was on the wireless.
Anything from Luther Vandross, one of the supreme male vocalists of my time, to Pink to Sam Cooke, Teeks, Journey, Keith Urban, Teddy Swims and what playlist is complete without Air Supply's 'All Out of Love'.
What do you think is Whanganui's best kept secret?
I actually discovered - by discovered I mean I was taken there - some mountain bike tracks a few months back thanks to the Mountain Bike Club.
Would you rather dance to every song you heard or sing every song you heard?
How many Doubros deep am I? If none, I'm dancing, poorly mind you. If nine I'm singing every word, Hoki mai being one of the favourites.
What is your favourite sporting moment and why?
Anything that involves New Zealand and Kiwis winning. The All Blacks winning the World Cups. I rewatched Nathan Cohen and Joe Sullivan's gold medal win again the other day - that was epic.
Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty winning gold and silver at the Olympics.
The Tall Blacks run at the world champs in 2002 where they made the semifinals. Oh and Megan Compain being the first Kiwi to play the NBA. She would give me her shoes, not heels or anything, her basketball boots.
Perhaps Rhys Darby would play Dave Campbell in a biopic.
How do you think Whanganui could improve?
How do we improve on perfection?
Which event from history would you most like to have attended and why?
It would have to be a sporting moment I reckon, watching The Chicago Bulls win one of their three-peats. Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time. Sure Lebron (James) is good but Jordan, holy moly.
How do you think Whanganui has changed over the years?
It's a lot busier, more choices to do things, the walking tracks, the bike track up to Ūpokongaro, and we drink craft beer not just DB Draught. Mind blowing.
What do you think Whanganui will look like in 50 years?
You know how fashion comes around? Wouldn't it be great if that happened to Whanganui as well? Friday night shopping, town closes lunchtime Saturday, BMX at the BMX track at Kowhai Park on Sunday mornings.
Who would you want to play you in the Dave Campbell biopic and why?
The teenage Dave Campbell that kid from 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople', purely from a cheekiness point of view. The older Dave Campbell obviously someone with charm and charisma. Rhys Darby?
