2020 Victorian Sport Award Finalists

#CaseyGirlsCan is an ongoing campaign by the City of Casey to encourage women and girls to get involved in sport and physical activity, address barriers to their participation and support the This Girl Can Vic campaign. Utilising Vicsport’s Innovation Lab, Casey Council embarked on a project to empower CALD women to take up leadership roles in locally led, culturally appropriate physical activities for other CALD women, while partnering with a number of organisations to provide online physical activity programs that reached more than 12,000 women. A range of activities are available for free via #CaseyGirlsCan on YouTube and new approaches used in 2020 will now be permanent features of the campaign.

Sarah Loh - South Metro Junior Football League

CEO Sarah Loh bucked the trend of COVID-19 to ensure the South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL) remained financially viable, retained all staff and supported its 25 clubs financially and socially during 2020. Setting up the SMJFL Community Fund, Sarah covered registrations and insurance fees for participants while also investing in mentoring and mental health programs for kids and volunteers. The modified “Football-4-Fun” program assisted kids to play football after lockdown in a COVID-safe environment with 2,500 players aged 7-18 participating in 460+ games for free over four weeks. The SMJFL was the only football league to not charge a single fee in 2020 and was able cover the insurance for over 11,000 players and its member clubs.

Liam Murphy - Calisthenics Victoria

Needing to be creative, innovative and courageous to maintain connection with existing members and build new audiences during COVID-19, Calisthenics Victoria created “This Is Calisthenics”, a two-part reality TV show that saw the sport, for the first time ever, brought to a national audience. The program shared four stories celebrating the diversity of the calisthenics community, showcased the athleticism and artistry of the sport as well as the strength and courage of the calisthenics community. Reaching an audience of 100,000 across TV and streaming with another 600,000 people reached on social media, “This Is Calisthenics” positively impacted the sport’s community during a dark time.

Sean Whipp and Tim Crosbie - Athletics Victoria

In response to the events of 2020, Sean and Tim pivoted the content of their ‘Down the Track’ podcast to focus on community engagement with interviews from club committee champions, regional athletes and local coaches while also engaging experts in the field of gender equity, nutrition and para-sports. These human-interest stories offered new perspectives on what the sport of athletics means to people as well as expanding the podcast’s reach beyond the athletic community. With more than 17,000 downloads in 2020, ‘Down the Track’ showcased athletics as a welcoming and safe environment suitable for all individuals.

Puma - Melbourne Vixens/Netball Victoria

Following a description of netball as a ‘glamour’ sport in The Age, Melbourne Vixens’ partner Puma created the 'Witness Fearless' social media phenomenon. Showcasing the sport in a fierce, positive way, fighting back against those that belittle netball and engaging a new audience at the same time, the campaign caught fire. Online correspondence flooded in with messages of gratitude and support, the likes of the Shameless Podcast, radio hosts and clubs throughout the AFL, AFLW, NBL and NRL joined the rallying cry and the term ‘fearless’ will now underpin the overall ethos at Netball Victoria and the Vixens.

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.

Marg Jones - Pakenham Lions Netball Club

As President, Marg was a driving force behind maintaining positive wellbeing amongst the athletes and support staff of the Pakenham Lions Netball Club during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with a supportive league, AFL Outer East and Netball Victoria, together with her dedicated committee members and coaches, players were empowered to stay connected with Marg's priority being their mental health. Balancing full-time work and caring for her family, Marg personally contacted every player, coach, committee member and sponsor of the 25 teams within the Football Netball Club and local indoor competition to check on their wellbeing while also posting daily updates on Facebook, checking in via emails and providing informational webinars. Not missing anyone’s birthday during this time, Marg also organised weekly Zoom sessions focusing on strength and conditioning, yoga, team chats and committee meetings.

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.

Heather Webb - Waverley Softball Association

In 2020, Waverley Softball Association hosted the Under-16 national Championships, bringing national softball back to Victoria for the first time in a decade. As President, Heather was a key organiser in the event which included four months of regular meetings with key organisations, managing volunteers, ground works, catering, preparing facilities and ultimately convening the seven-day event by working 12-hour days. Heather worked full-time while completing this project and carried out all other Presidential duties at the same time. Her leadership was rewarded by Waverley being named host for the upcoming Under-23 men’s national Championships as well as the Under-16’s tournament for another three years.

Joseph Joyce - Rowing Victoria

President of Rowing Victoria (RV) since 2017, Joseph took on the additional role of interim CEO for ten months in 2020. Navigating the COVID-19 lockdowns, Joseph worked over 40 hours a week but alongside his voluntary Presidential role, Joseph forwent remuneration as interim CEO as well. He used the lockdown to empower staff by encouraging them to implement new initiatives such as indoor rowing competitions, worked with elite clubs to support aspiring rowers, strengthened relationships with stakeholders to better serve the rowing community post-lockdown, exceeded budget expectations by managing financials and worked tirelessly to get rowers back on the water as soon as possible.

Elizabeth Gosper - Inclusive Sports Training

Elizabeth is the head coach of Inclusive Sports Training, an Australian-first triathlon club for people with an intellectual disability. Starting in 2013 with 33 competitors, a partnership with Triathlon Victoria saw the program expand and she now coaches 90+ athletes over 20 hours a week while included pivoting her sessions online during COVID-19. Athletes are encouraged to be competitive but not at the expense of good sportsmanship while Elizabeth promotes mentoring opportunities with elite athletes to build work experience and future employment prospects. Her partnership with Triathlon Victoria culminated with the intellectual impairment category being added to the 2020 Australian Triathlon National Championships.

Life Saving Victoria

Through a stand-alone department dedicated to the needs of the CALD community, Life Saving Victoria (LSV) partnered with 170 CALD organisations, schools and clubs to provide 22,000 CALD community members with a targeted ‘welcome’ and the first steps towards safe and enjoyable involvement in aquatic sport and recreation. 440 separate activities and courses were delivered with 1,150 participants learning to swim while 53 CALD youths subsequently joined clubs or found employment within the aquatic and recreation industry. LSV has since shared the successful education model with the aquatics industry as well as other SSAs, local councils and lifesaving clubs.

Stella Lesic - Queer Sporting Alliance

During 2020, Stella led the Queer Sporting Alliance (orginially known as Bushrangers Sporting Alliance) to become the largest LGBTIQ+ community not-for-profit sports club in Australia. Their Come Out & Play (basketball) and Come Out & Roll (roller skating) programs reengage the LGBTIQ+ community that has become disillusioned with sport while their governance framework has seen them work closely with NSOs and SSAs to help improve their inclusion practices. Removing gendered competition and welcoming gender diverse folk in their Carlton Baths competitions is a national first for mainstream basketball while COVID-19 did not halt BSA’s progress as they signed a number of new teams and held weekly online training sessions.

Yvonne Snell and Sarah Wheadon - Special Olympics Australia

The peak body for developing and delivering inclusive sport and physical activity for people with intellectual disability, Special Olympics Australia held a six-part webinar series in 2020 titled Autism Inclusion in Sport, Recreation and Physical Education. Presenters included people with lived experience of autism, teachers who support young people with autism, researchers and inclusive sports program providers. Learning about the exclusion that people with autism face and how to counter it, 2,129 participants were reached including organisations not wholly connected to sport who gained an understanding of how important inclusion and education is to the sporting sector.

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.

The Inaugural Omnium Regatta - Rowing Victoria

With no multi-lane racing allowed during COVID-19, Rowing Victoria (RV) developed a one-way 7km course around Lake Wendouree. Divided into sections of differing distances, crews could participate and/or compete against others that matched their fitness and skill levels, using the Strava app to track their times. The inaugural Omnium Regatta was held just after the conclusion of lockdown with 400 athletes and ten officials taking part while media promotion attracted a local Ballarat crowd. The successful event can be partly credited for a subsequent 15% increase in athlete numbers and race entries while future Omniums will now form part of the RV calendar.

MapLink (DIY Orienteering) - Orienteering Victoria

At the commencement of lockdown, Debbie Dodd put out a call to the Orienteering Victoria community who produced a total of 138 new courses accessible in urban areas under a DIY initiative called MapLink. Available via MapRun (an app that allows users to upload, save and share their completed courses for virtual competitions), Facebook and Google Docs were also utilised to track a virtual scoring system. Between April and September 2020, 2,140 participants were recorded completing a course and the online activity enabled Debbie to ensure enthusiasm, fitness and entertainment levels remained high through lockdown while the use of technology has opened new avenues for the orienteering community.

Club Race Series - Triathlon Victoria

Spanning the last five months of 2020, Triathlon Victoria (TV) collaborated with clubs to develop the Club Race Series. Utilising Zwift, a multiplayer online cycling and running program, clubs went head-to-head in virtual races with a grading system allowing all abilities to compete on an even playing field. Becoming the 48th largest team on Zwift out of nearly 10,000 teams worldwide, 70% of affiliated clubs competed in the series and women represented 35% of competitors. Following the series, TV’s membership grew 20% and the series’ success will see it return as a winter option in 2021.

'The Cage' - McKinnon Basketball Association

With no ‘facility to call home’, McKinnon Basketball Association has always been at a disadvantage but COVID-19 provided a chance to re-focus and turn a negative into a positive by creating ‘The Cage’. Temporary outdoor basketball courts housed a 3x3 tournament that featured 65 teams and over 1,000 competitors across four weekends while weekly trainings, the Aussie Hoops junior program and an All-Abilities program were also held. Offering flexibility, cost effectiveness and a way to engage all members, ‘The Cage’ provided a carnival atmosphere that not only saw players return to training and playing in a COVID-safe environment but also reconnected the basketball community after seven months apart.

Club Race Series - Triathlon Victoria

Spanning the last five months of 2020, Triathlon Victoria (TV) collaborated with clubs to develop the Club Race Series. Utilising Zwift, a multiplayer online cycling and running program, clubs went head-to-head in virtual races with a grading system allowing all abilities to compete on an even playing field. Becoming the 48th largest team on Zwift out of nearly 10,000 teams worldwide, 70% of affiliated clubs competed in the series and women represented 35% of competitors. Following the series, TV’s membership grew 20% and the series’ success will see it return as a winter option in 2021.

FitSkills - LaTrobe 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.

I Speak Football - City in the Community

I Speak Football is an innovative community football program run in Victorian schools and community settings aimed at engaging young CALD people aged 7-19. Activities, tournaments and holiday programs are held while participants (a majority of which have experienced barriers to traditional sport and recreation) can access education and employment mentoring and training. Across the program’s two years, over 20 young leaders have gone on to run community football programs across Melbourne as casual staff or volunteers. Independent evaluations of 500 participants (40% of which are women) have proven the program has positively impacted participants’ self-confidence and sense of belonging.