2020 Victorian Sport Award Winners
Congratulations to the individuals, organisations and initiatives below for being awarded as winners of the 2020 Victorian Sport Awards!
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This award recognises a Local Government Authority who has made a significant contribution to sport in 2020 through the development of a participation program or facility.
#CaseyGirlsCan - City of Casey
https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/casey-girls-can
Victorian sports administrators who have demonstrated an outstanding level of achievement during 2020 at the State Sporting Association, Regional Sports Assembly or National Sporting Organisation (Victorian based) level. The recipient’s contribution will have provided benefit to, or had a positive impact upon, an individual sport or the industry as a whole, and their standards of excellence will have distinguished them from peers.
As the CEO of Vicsport, Lisa displayed outstanding leadership to navigate all Victorian sports through imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. During weekly Zoom meetings, Lisa helped interpret the rules as they related to the sports industry while also updating and advising on constant changes throughout the year. Beyond those meetings, Lisa provided one-on-one guidance, personally attended to specific enquiries from sports, analysed Return To Play plans, co-hosted COVID-19 information webinars and liaised with government on behalf of sports to provide an approachable, knowledgeable and reassuring presence during an uncertain time.
This award recognises the coverage of elite and community sport to the wider public via various online, digital, broadcast and/or print media platforms in 2020.
Raff Agostino - School Sport Victoria
Running the Communications and Marketing for School Sport Victoria (SSV), Raff managed the “Ask SSV Show” in 2020. Spanning 32 weeks, the hour-long shows saw athletes interviewed with students granted the opportunity to ask questions live and directly to their sporting heroes. 221 schools and 277 students participated, thousands more tuned in to watch the show and listen to the podcast while a focus on inclusion allowed students with a disability to take part as well. During the pandemic, Raff also built an online system where students could submit media of their athletic performances with Olympians and elite athletes contacted to promote engagement.
https://responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/
This award recognises a volunteer of the Victorian sport and active recreation community who has made a positive difference to the opportunities and experiences available to others in 2020 and over a long period of time.
Richard Lawysz - Athletics Victoria
A National Technical Official for 40 years, Richard serves on committees from grassroots to national level. President of the Geelong Athletics Regional Centre from 1998-2017 and 2018-present where he works as an official and coach as well, Richard also serves Athletics Victoria as a member of the Victorian Officials Committee and represents Geelong on the Athletics Victoria Shield League subcommittee. During COVID-19, Richard ensured the Officials Committee stayed connected, facilitated virtual seminars and was a co-presenter of a world-first officials education initiative set up online. Excelling in all aspect of the sport, Richard is a highly valued educator within the athletics community.
The Peter Norman Inclusion Award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to safe, fair and inclusive sport in 2020.
http://www.sportsaccounting.com.au/
This award recognises the work of individuals, clubs, teams, groups or organisations (including SSAs) who have succeeded in enabling more people to participate in sport activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new award for 2020 highlights the innovative work that sport has promoted to keep people active and connect with members.
North West Travel League - Softball
With uncertainty surrounding the softball season due to COVID-19, three associations (Northern District, Sunshine and Keilor Park) formed a partnership to develop the North West Travel League. This agreement, that included modified rules to avoid contact as well as shared grounds, players, officials, equipment and resources, ensured members would have a ready competition to play in as soon as lockdown ended. In addition, all three associations halted a decline in memberships and reduced the financial impact by hosting multiple rounds which generated revenue through food and drink sales.
https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/
This award recognises the work of individuals, clubs, teams, groups or organisations (including SSAs) who have succeeded in enabling more people to participate in active recreation during 2020 through a single initiative, event or long-term initiative.
FitSkills - La Trobe University
FitSkills is a 12-week community-based program addressing the lack of social support and inclusive programs for people with disability aged 13-30. In collaboration with City of Boroondara, Sport and Recreation Victoria, Disability Sport and Recreation, Down Syndrome Victoria, Cerebral Palsy Support Network, Joanne Tubb Foundation and YMCA Victoria, participation was facilitated at 20 community gyms where a young person with disability was matched with a student mentor from the same locality to exercise together. Adaptations to the program enabled 27 young people with more complex disability to also take part. Participants said the program built a sense of belonging in their community, made them feel confident and capable after the sessions and these feelings extended to their home and work activities while also providing the impetus to continue exercising beyond the program.
The Victorian State Government Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award is presented to an individual or organisation in recognition of outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, sport in Victoria. Winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award are nominated by the Vicsport Board and selected by a panel of industry representatives who are chosen based on their significant role in the Victorian sport and active recreation sector.
Malcolm Speed AO
Malcolm has had a long and distinguished career as lawyer, sports administrator and company director and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2012 for his tireless work in shaping cricket and basketball as well as his invaluable involvement in various sports including cycling, golf and Australian rules football.
Speed was executive Chairman of Basketball Australia and CEO of the NBL from 1980 to 1997, a period in which the sport emerged as a major force on the court while gaining a national audience and unheralded commercial support off it.
He was then recruited to the CEO role of the Australian Cricket Board from 1997 to 2001 before transitioning into the role of CEO for the International Cricket Council. Speed held that position from 2001 to 2008, during a tumultuous phase of dramatic growth on the sub-continent, a rise in gambling on cricket and allegations of match fixing. In this environment, Speed’s legal training and his reputation for independence and integrity were undoubted assets.
Among his other many achievements are:
Chairman of Cycling Australia
Director of the Victorian Major Events Company
Director of Golf Australia
Director of Sports Environmental Alliance
Director of Richmond Football Club
Executive Director of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) which looks after AFL, Australian Rugby Union, Cricket Australia, FFA, National Rugby League, Netball Australia and Tennis Australia
Lifetime member of ANSZLA and awarded the ANSZLA’s Outstanding Service to Sport Award
