2024 Victorian Sport Awards Finalists

Nurturing the varied skill levels of the Sale United Football Club women’s team, Madelaine recruited fresh players from a diverse age range (14-54) that included new mothers juggling kids or breastfeeding and with that diversity, instilled a sense of inclusiveness and camaraderie throughout the team. In 2024 the club went back-to-back, winning the League Championship and Cup titles. Madelaine also coaches the Latrobe Valley Soccer League U18 girls who have made the last three Victorian Country Championship finals. Passionate about the womens game, she collaborates often with other coaches for advice, session planning and drill ideas while during Female Football Week, she instigated combined training sessions for junior girls and women.

At 17 years old, Connor brought a new kind of energy to coaching at Casey Netball Association with his communication to kids and encouragement of every team member positioning him as an instant role model in the community. A netball player as well representing the Victorian men’s U20 state team, Connor juggled his coaching duties with Year 12 commitments but has progressed to intermediate coach accreditation and was recently named to the coaching panel of the Casey Demons 19&U side.

Tim is a key reason for the welcoming, safe and inclusive environment of Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club as he mentors new coaches, runs clinics to improve their skills, enhances the club’s coaching framework, holds pre-season training camps and fitness sessions for parents as well as development programs that benefit athletes and coaches. With a proactive approach to self-improvement, Tim is also a strong mental health advocate and his ability to lead by example situates him as an admired figure throughout the Jan Juc community.

Heading up the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Open program, Gerard led four out of six teams to State Championship Grand Final victories in 2024. Committing countless hours to ensure all teams are set up for success, he plays a key role in assisting the Victorian Institute of Sport program, Victorian under-age program and talent ID pathways. Gerard is also the head coach of the Geelong Cougars Victorian Netball League Club and his dedication to the growth of Victorian netball has helped drive the club’s long-term success.

As Eastern Sirens Synchronized Swimming Club’s head coach, Prateeti promotes an inclusive culture where all individuals feel valued with initiatives tailored to support young members beginning their sporting journey, adults who want to keep fit and elite athletes performing at a state and national level. Prateeti personally mentored four new Victorian coaches in 2024, introduced club captain roles to support young athlete’s growth and was a Duke of Ed mentor to develop the leadership of young members. At the 2024 nationals, her teams earned silver medals in the Free Age team, Masters 40+ and Masters 40+ Women Duet.

Identifying a significant gap in the female player pathway, Jimmy conceptualised and spearheaded the creation of a Women’s Development League in 2024. He proactively supported its implementation and created development opportunities for players and coaches to progress their own skills and careers, an instrumental aspect in shaping the next generation. Jimmy also found success on the field in 2024 with his men’s team finishing the Series Futsal League 2024.1 and 2024.2 seasons undefeated while his men’s and women’s teams claimed victory in the F-League tournament. Two of his male players were selected for national representation with the Futsalroos and a female player was chosen for the inaugural Australian Women’s Futsal National Team.

Ashley Braszell - Cycling

Hailing from Blackburn Cycling Club, Ashley made a habit of standing atop the podium throughout 2024 with a highly successful year across state, national and international competitions. At the Victorian Masters Track Championships, he won gold in the Time Trial and Sprint before repeating the efforts at the AusCycling National Track Championships in Brisbane while also adding a silver in the Team Sprint. He then headed to France in October for the UCI Masters Track World Championship and competed in the 35-39 category. He won silver in the Sprint before going one better in the 1000m Time Trial, adding another gold medal to his tally.

Glenn Busby - Tennis

Starring individually and within a team as he represented Australia in the World Team Championships, Glenn is placed number one in the Men’s 65+ ITF World Tennis Masters Tour rankings. In 2024, he won the MT700 Gold Coast, MT1000 Hobart, MT1000 Mallorca as well as the 65+ World Individual Championships on carpet in Türkiye. He bolstered his trophy cabinet with another win in Türkiye, claiming the Britannia Cup in the ITF Masters World Team Championships as part of a four-player Australian side.

Nadene Gole - Golf

Already a history-maker in the Masters golf scene, Nadene shattered more records in 2024 by becoming the first Australian to win both the US Senior Amateur and British Senior Amateur Championships. The 56-year old triumphed in seven out of nine senior world ranking events, claiming titles across the USA, UK and New Zealand while also leading Australia over New Zealand in the Senior Women’s Trans-Tasman Trophy. Securing her position as the world number one senior amateur golfer, Nadene finished in that position every consecutive week through 2024.

Cindy Rella - Kettlebell

From Melbourne Kettlebell Sport Association, Cindy competed in Girevoy Sport Australia competitions through 2024 and achieved three gold medals, three Master of Sport ranks and set eight Australian records. At the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation Oceania Championships, she became the first veteran female over 50 years of age to lift 28kg for ten minutes to win and receive the ranking of Candidate of Master of Sport. Cindy then travelled to Poland for the World Championships and notched three world records in addition to five gold medals, a silver and a bronze.

Samantha Dwyer - Life Saving

Significantly benefitting the Life Saving community at a club, state and national level, Sam has implemented innovative initiatives at Hampton Life Saving Club including a digital platform for managing Nipper sessions that saw a 30% increase in youth participation. At a state level, Sam helped increase female engagement by 25% through two programs, Women in Lifesaving Panel and Pathways and a Masters Program, while she has fostered resilience within the community via a Wellbeing and Mental Health Working Group. Nationally, Sam collaborated with Emergency Management Victoria to enhance local community safety and preparedness, evidenced by a 15% increase in emergency response training volunteer participation.

Kelly Godfrey - Hockey

Under her stewardship, Kelly led Latrobe Valley Hockey Association (LVHA) to be the only Victorian regional hockey association to experience membership growth in 2024, thanks in part to her adopting the Hockey 5s format at junior levels and as an option for senior players to return to the game. Championing events such as Pride Round, NAIDOC Week and health rounds for men/boys and women/girls, Kelly faces down detractors to ensure LVHA remains a vibrant and inclusive association. She also expanded the club’s representation at higher levels of competition, organising men's and women's teams for the Vic League and the International Hockey Cup in Melbourne while simultaneously managing both teams.

David Kearsley - Little Athletics

Performing 12 distinct roles at Knox Little Athletics Centre in 2024 including President, Competition Director, Centre Referee, Little Athletics Victoria (LA Vic) photographer and website manager, Dave’s incredible dedication ensured training, competitions, facility maintenance and event coordination all went smoothly. Towards the end of the summer season, Dave assisted LA Vic to move the 23/24 State Track & Field Championships to Knox with only a fortnight’s notice. Coinciding with the coordination alongside Council of a $5m upgrade to the Knox athletics track, this was a daunting undertaking for an event involving 2000+ athletes but ultimately proved a huge success.

Louise Thornton - Tennis

Through the delivery of Community Play Hot Shots at Yackandandah Tennis Club, Louise has helped grow a junior base from a dozen participants initially to just under 50 kids aged 3-10 in 2024. Completing a Women in Leadership course with Tennis Australia, Louise built a Cardio Tennis program for 12 women over six weeks. Demand for the program beyond the pilot stage saw Cardio Tennis continue to run with participants loving the social, fun and inclusive environment that Louise created. A Family Fun Day was another positive initiative that broke down barriers to participation by removing the competition element and embracing the social nature of the sport.

Junior State Championships - Hockey Victoria

A yearly tournament that brings together 1,100 players across three regional and six metropolitan zones as well as 300 coaches and officials, the Junior State Championships were held in Bendigo and Shepparton in 2024. A multi-day competition that features an equal number of boys and girls teams from U12-U18’s, Hockey Victoria manages all aspects of the event from selecting players, organising uniforms and arranging accommodation and fixturing in addition to setting up marquees, temporary fencing and elevated platforms for live-streaming. Local Indigenous Elders were contacted to hold Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies at both locations while also educating participants about the history of the regions.

National Sports Tournament - Queer Sporting Alliance

Queer Sporting Alliance’s (QSA) National Sports Tournament is the largest rainbow community sports tournament in the country. Run over two days in 2024 at Narrandjeri Stadium in Thornbury, the sold-out event involved basketball and netball as well as DJs, roving roller skating and a queer community market featuring local businesses. QSA provided financial help for those players unable to afford fees, partnered with ASPECT to aid neurodivergent participants and introduced “Court Supporters” who were identifiable volunteers that provided culture chats to keep games fair, answers to FAQ’s and general assistance. Post-event, 91% of participants agreed they were more connected to the LGBTQIA+ community thanks to the NST.

Statewide Senior Football & Netball Carnival - VACSAL

The VACSAL Statewide Senior Football & Netball Carnival is a premier Aboriginal sporting event that attracts 1,000+ athletes and thousands more supporters for a weekend of high-level competition, cultural connection and community celebration. More than just sport, the carnival fosters inclusivity, leadership and reconciliation in a culturally safe environment. It also provides pathways for athlete development by inspiring ongoing involvement in local football and netball leagues. VACSAL’s seamless event coordination includes the management of multiple events, regional travel arrangements, structuring the competition schedule and collaborating with other Aboriginal organisations, sporting bodies and local councils to assist with smooth operations.

Victorian Cup of Nations - Football Victoria

Established in 2024, the Victorian Cup of Nations (VCON) celebrated Victoria’s diverse multicultural communities through a four-week tournament that provided players an inclusive platform to showcase their cultural backgrounds, talent and passion for the game. 257 players registered for the 7-a-side games, of which 220 had not played in previous Football Victoria competitions, 160 older adults participated in Walking Football and 105 children joined the pathway Global Football Program. To support low socio-economic background participation, minimal entry fees and free uniforms/equipment were provided. Cultural food trucks and live performances with traditional music and dance showcased the rich heritage of participating communities and created a vibrant festival atmosphere that celebrated both football and culture.

Balancing officiating duties with being a facility manager in Ballarat, Stephen is a respected contributor to Athletics Victoria at a state and national level. Based regionally means he regularly travels great distances to attend events but is often spotted as the first to arrive and last to leave at meets including the Victorian State Championships, Melbourne Track Classic, grassroot Ballarat events and the Australian All-Schools Championships held in Brisbane. Holding a World Athletics referee qualification means he can provide education to new officials around the Wendouree Athletic Club and Stephen is instrumental in leading the Technical Team and mentoring several officials.

Hitting the ground running in her first year as an official, Sarah officiated at 19 Life Saving Victoria led carnivals and three national events. Achieving her Technical Official accreditation, she took on multiple roles including Event Director, Chief Judge and Course Supervisor while she continued her education by participating in an Officials Development Day and Australian Pool Lifesaving Championship Officials Development workshop. Working closely with clubs such as Mentone and Mordialloc, Sarah has developed life saving programs that encourage participation and growth within the community while her guidance through the online Technical Official modules has helped to build a dedicated group of volunteers.

Working tirelessly to enhance his own skill set, foster a community of inclusiveness and ensure the success of every event, Liam took on various officiating roles at state and national level including Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator/Officer and Powercraft Coordinator while earning his Life Saving Australia Technical Official accreditation. He also attended the Australian Youth, Masters & Open Championships on a Victorian Scholarship to further develop his skills. Liam plays an active role in mentoring Area Rescue & Response Officers, guiding them through their responsibilities and he has organised social events that foster camaraderie and teamwork to help build a cohesive powercraft team.

In addition to the countless local events that Alan officiated at during 2024, his highlights included the National Hopes Week & Challenge in Geelong, Victorian Open Championships, Australian National Veterans Championship and the Paris Olympics. Secretary and Treasurer for the Table Tennis Victoria Umpires league, A true stalwart of the sport who is a life member at Defenders Table Tennis Club in East Bentleigh and of Table Tennis Victoria, Alan also holds positions on the Table Tennis Australia and ITTF Oceania Umpires and Referees Committee.

Officiating ATP, ITP and WTF competitions in 2024, Matthew umpired throughout Australia as well as in Japan, South Korea and Guam as both a line umpire and chair umpire for wheelchair, deaf and hard of hearing, intellectually disabled and able-bodied competitions. Having completed officiating training to be awarded his White Badge status, Matthew also provided advice and encouragement to ball kids at the 2024 Australian Open, inspiring them to follow his journey and enter the officiating pathway.

The first point of contact for aspiring Victorian Technical Officials, Cynthia facilitates training courses and contributes to the Technical Official Induction Manual while mentoring and actively engaging with new officials from state level through to international. She rostered officials for approximately 25 local tournaments in 2024, officiated herself throughout Victoria, Indonesia and Japan and undertook a governance and operational review of the Badminton Victoria Technical Officials Committee. Cynthia also became the first Australian since 2014 to achieve Badminton World Federation (BWF) Umpire status, the highest level of accreditation for badminton umpires, and is also the youngest female to be qualified as a BWF Umpire.

CaliStars - Calisthenics Victoria

A competition that allowed performers with a disability to participate in a calisthenics competition for the first time, CaliStars was offered to 50 young people in 2024. All participants received an official certificate but places were awarded by adjudicators who had previously attended a seminar on the inclusive initiative as competitors expressed that they wanted a competition, not just a display. Individual needs were provided on entry forms regarding stage conditions including lights, sounds and assistance required. The success of the program has seen it extended from two weekends to four in 2025 with more entrants and opportunities available throughout the season.

Junior West Softball League - Softball

Due to a lack of numbers, the Werribee and Geelong Softball Associations had been without a junior competition for years but recently, Softball Victoria led a discussion with four teams to develop the Junior West Softball League, allowing an eight-week competition to be run for U14 mixed gender teams. All sids hosted a game with the competition involving 37 participants, ten coaches as well as volunteers and officials. Its success has seen four additional rounds to be played after Christmas while Softball Victoria junior memberships have also increased on the back of the initiative.

Specialist Hoops Victoria - Basketball

Changing lives of young adults with a disability around Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Gisborne, Specialist Hoops Victoria began as a program with five children and now involves 120+ participants who come for a basketball program but stay for the community spirit and friendships made. A ‘Get Your Wheels On’ program included wheelchair basketball activities while two participants have gone on to represent Victoria at the Ivor Burge national Championships, winning gold. Where they would normally head home after school, participants now have an active and fun place to go that is unique within the North-Western region.

Victorian International Optimist Dinghy Association - Sailing

The Victorian International Optimist Dinghy Association (VIODA) successfully implemented several innovative initiatives to boost participation including the Winter Coaching Program at Albert Park Lake, providing 50+ young Optimist sailors an opportunity to remain active in the winter as well as parent workshops for boat maintenance and progression pathways. Through a Girls Camp and mentorship program that includes past champions of the sport, female participation has grown by 5%, an exchange program with China helped gained international exposure for VIODA and a partnership with the Black Dog Institute focused on mental health support for secondary school-aged girls.

Brock Batty - Trampolining

In his first year of competing in senior competition (at age 17), Brock won the Australian National Senior Championship and was selected for the Paris Olympics. He also competed at the Trampoline World Cups in Azerbaijan and Germany, finishing as the highest placed Australian. At the Olympics, Brock became the youngest ever male trampolinist and finished in 13 ^th place, earning him the Victorian Institute of Sport’s Rising Star of the Year award.

Tahlia Denham - Basketball, Cricket, Netball

A triple-threat, Tahlia was selected to play for Victoria in the Australian Deaf Games in both the women’s and mixed netball teams and she came home with two gold medals. Just 48 hours later, she was on a plane to Brisbane where she represented Victoria at the National Cricket Inclusion Championships as vice-captain. In the Deaf Women’s tournament, she won another gold medal while also being named to the Australian XI. In September, Tahlia competed for Australia at the Asia Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships held in Melbourne and once again reached the podium, earning a silver medal.

Jack Howell - Para-Triathlon

At 20 years of age, Jack was the youngest participant in every competition he entered through 2024 but that did not hold him back. He became the national and Oceania champion in Para-triathlon PTS5 class while also winning a silver medal at the World Championships in Spain as well as a gold in the World Series in Devonport with a time of 1:00:39 – over a minute faster than his closest competitor. He qualified for the Paris Paralympics and placed seventh to finish the year ranked number two in the world for the PTS5 class.

Joshua Jolly - BMX

Hailing from Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club, Josh was crowned the winner at the 2024 UCI Men’s Junior Elite BMX Racing World Championships in South Carolina. A spectacular diving move into the first corner saw him slingshot into the lead and he went on to win by over a second. Josh also claimed victories at the Elite Men’s Superclass Championships and BMX Grand Nationals for the 17-20 Open Men. A part of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program, Josh is also an ambassador for the Australian BMX Hall of Fame and has completed a community instructor program to assist club-based training sessions.

Leah Keh - Sailing

Vice President, dedicated volunteer and digital marketing powerhouse, Leah has grown Victorian International Optimist Dinghy Association’s (VIODA) social media presence through photography, videography and storytelling. Under her leadership, VIODA posts have featured on Australian Sailing and the Australian Olympic Team’s platforms, showcasing the benefits of sailing, guiding new sailors through the complexities of the sport and generating outside interest. Leah’s persistence has led a spike in female participation, particularly in coaching roles while parent involvement in event organisation and sailor support has surged to further strengthen the community sailing spirit.

Ocean Racing Club of Victoria - Sailing

Focusing on education and community connection in 2024, Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) grew their social media presence with a 23% increase in Facebook followers, a 14% bump on Instagram and their monthly newsletters achieved an impressive 54% open rate which all helped lead to a 35% growth in membership. Utilising media coverage across TV, radio and print enhanced the ORCV’s public image with the promotion of programs such as Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy (KISS) which is designed by women for women, the Rip Tour that emphasises community education and the Novice Skipper & Navigator program.

Victorian Age Short Course Championships - Swimming

Navigating the logistics of the 2024 Age Short Course Championships, Swimming Victoria streamed three days of competition with commentary via their YouTube channel including heat sessions where the 50m pool was divided into two with races happening concurrently. Complimented with social media coverage and pool deck interviews, the coverage tallied almost 38,000 views. Positively received by swimmers, friends and families, the stream allowed regional, interstate and international viewers to tune in while coaches also appreciated the footage as it enabled them to review races.

Victorian Institute of Sport's 'The Moment' Series - various

Exploring the rich history of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), ‘The Moment’ series covered reflections of six former VIS athletes or coaches (Lauren Burns, Melissa Tapper, Alistair Donohoe, Bill Tait, Shane Kelly and Rowie Webster) as they looked back on personally significant instances that changed the trajectory of their sporting careers and/or made a significant impact on the history of their sport. The vignettes comprised glory, heartbreak and resilience and the evocative nature of the pieces provoked nostalgic memories for those that witnessed them as well as inspiration and encouragement for the next generation.

Scotty James - Snowboarding

Starting off the year in style, Scotty notched a score of 94 in his first halfpipe run at the World Cup in Laax, Switzerland, to claim the gold medal for his ninth World Cup win of his career and third in the Laax halfpipe. At the FIS Snowboard World Cup in China, he earned his 16 ^th career World Cup medal with a silver but he was back on top of the podium at the X-Games in the USA, joining Shaun White as the only men to win three straight X-Games halfpipe gold medals while it was Scotty’s sixth career X-Games gold overall.

Kelland O'Brien - Cycling

With the shadow of a troubled Tokyo campaign lingering and coming into the Games as outsiders, Kelland and the Australian Team Pursuit quartet triumphed with a win over one of the world’s strongest track nations in Great Britain to win gold at the Paris Olympics. This came off the back of a world record time in the quarter-finals and was Australia’s first track gold since 2012. It proved to be a true redemption story after equipment malfunctions plagued the team at the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Commonwealth Games.

John Peers - Tennis

Across a year that included doubles victories at the ATP Halle Open, Nottingham Challenger, Swiss Indoors 500 Series and the Belgrade Open 250 Series, John headed to the Paris Olympics in brilliant form. In his third Olympic campaign, John played alongside Matt Ebden and they dominated their way into the gold medal match without losing a set. They faltered slightly in the first set of the final, losing in a tiebreaker, but fought back to claim the gold in a 6-7, 7-6, 10-8 nailbiter. For his efforts, John was named Tennis Australia’s Victorian Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Newcombe Medal.

Sam Williamson - Swimming

Making a name for himself on the international stage at the World Aquatic Championships in Doha, Sam placed fourth in the 100m breaststroke final with a PB of 59.21 seconds. He made a bigger splash in the 50m breaststroke, swimming an Australian record of 26.41 in the semi-final before beating that time again in the final (26.32) to become the World Champion. He also clamed a silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay, contributing with the breaststroke leg. At the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials, Sam once again bettered his PB in the 100m breaststroke (58.8) to secure his first Olympic berth at Paris.

Jakara Anthony - Mogul Skiing

One of our greatest athletes, Jakara rose to new heights in 2024 by winning 14 World Cup events for the season, three more than the next most ever by a mogul skier. Finishing first in single, dual and the overall moguls, she collected three World Cup Champion Crystal Globes while also passing Kirstie Marshall for most career World Cup podiums with a total now of 43. While she unfortunately broke her collarbone during training in December, Jakara has made a full recovery and is now ready to add even more silverware to her overflowing trophy cabinet.

Grace Brown - Cycling

Marking the perfect end to her racing career, Grace had her most successful year on the bike in 2024 which included a gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the Women’s Road Individual Time Trial (ITT). This was Australian cycling’s first Olympic medal in a women’s individual time trial and the nation’s first gold medal on the road since Athens 2004. She added to her accolades with two victories at the UCI World Road Cycling Championships in the Women’s ITT and Team Time Trial, gold at the Chrono des Nations and another gold at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege in Belgium, becoming the first Australian woman to win one of the prestigious races known as the 'Monuments'.

Emily Petricola - Para-cycling

Not only did Emily defend her C4 3000m Individual Pursuit gold medal from Tokyo at last year’s Paris Paralympics, she also broke her own world record by over three seconds. Fighting her way to the Games by managing flare-ups of her multiple sclerosis while she was also hit by a car just weeks out from competition, Emily showed remarkable resilience to achieve her goals. She also secured gold in the C4 Individual Pursuit (her fourth consecutive title) and Omnium events at the 2024 Para-cycling Track World Championships as well as at the Para-cycling Road World Cup Time Trial and Road Race in Adelaide.

Qian Yang - Para-table tennis

Attending her fourth Games at the age of 28, Qian completely owned her field at the Paris Paralympics to win a gold medal in the Singles Class 10, capping it off with a final that lasted less than 30 minutes. She combined that with a gold medal in the Doubles 20 class, winning alongside Victorian Institute of Sport teammate Lina Lei, while she also claimed victories in the ITTF Slovenia Para Open and the 2024 National Championships where she podiumed in five out of six classes. Qian finished the year ranked world number one in her discipline.

Henri and Miles Levenspiel - Sailing

At just 15 years old, Henri and Miles put together an outstanding year in the 29er class and found success often against older, more experienced sailors. Their achievements included first place at Sail Melbourne, the Zhik Victorian Youth Championships, Sail Sandy and Schnapper Point Regatta while also finishing second at the Victorian State Championships. Progressing through to compete nationally, Henri and Miles placed first in the Junior Division and sixth overall at the Australian Championships which earned them selection to the Australian Sailing Youth Squad for the World Championships, set to be held in Portugal in December 2025.

Joshua Garner and Jack Benyan - Sailing

Joshua and Jack dominated the International Cadet Class in 2024, winning the Victorian and Australian Championships before heading to Plymouth in the United Kingdom where they became World Champions. Solidifying their presence as stars to watch out for in the future, they claimed all three victories with a race to spare. Having missed out on making the Australian team by one point in 2023, Joshua’s drive was stronger than ever and his historic success alongside Jack in addition to the teamwork and sportsmanship displayed on the international stage is already proving to be an inspiration to fellow Victorian sailors.

Tri-Series Team - Swimming

Claiming their second consecutive international win, the Victorian Touring Team claimed victory at the New Zealand Tri-Series in Hamilton. They took out four of the five matches, finishing with 2804 points ahead of New Zealand Team Black (2745), New Zealand Team White (2067) and Western Australia (1761). In addition to taking home the Overall Top Team Award, Isabella Osborn was the Overall Female Top Point scorer and Ashley Nicholes was the Overall Male Top Point scorer.

U14 Boys Casey Cavaliers - Basketball

Heading into Basketball Australia’s national Under-14 Club Championships, the Casey Cavaliers were looking to add to their trophy cabinet that included a Victorian Championship, National Junior Classic Championship and victories at the South Eastern Junior Basketball Tournament and Australia Day Tournament. Their success continued on the national stage, finishing the Under-14 Championships undefeated including an 84-46 victory in the final. This extended an incredible winning streak that dated back to October 2023, notching 59 victories in a row with an average winning margin of 35 points.

Queen's Cup Crew - Rowing

Continuing an historic run for the Elite Women’s 8+ racing in the Queen’s Cup at the Australian Rowing Championships, 2024 saw Victoria take home the gold medal for the 18 ^th time in the past 19 races. First presented in 1921, the Queen’s Cup changed to be awarded to the winning Eights in 1999 and Victoria have dominated the race since. Included in the crew was Olympic gold medallist Lucy Stephan who also tallied her personal 11 ^th Queen’s Cup win.

U18 Victorian Baseball Team - Baseball

Held in Blacktown in January 2024, Victoria claimed the U18 title at the Australian Youth Championships, finishing with an 8-1 overall record for the tournament. They faced Western Australia in their final game and found themselves down 0-4 early but Victoria made their move in the third inning before an RBI triple in the fourth from Addison Bishop-Worn helped push Victoria to a 7-4 victory and the gold medal. Underlying the strength of the Victorian squad, several players were selected to the National U18 team to compete in the USA.

Victorian Intellectual Disability Team - Cricket

Proving to be a dominant force on the national stage, the Victorian Intellectual Disability Team emerged victorious at the National Inclusion Cricket Championships for a fourth consecutive year. Demonstrating unparalleled teamwork and a commitment to excellence across the board, Victoria defeated Tasmania in the final by nine wickets with Steven Teloniatis picking up two wickets and Lukas Woodhouse notching a half-century. The tournament also marked the end of opening batter and Australian representative Gavan Hicks’ decorated career.

Victorian ISSF State Team - Target Pistol Shooting

The Target Pistol Australia National Championships were contested in Brisbane in 2024, comprising 15 individual and team events with 420 entrants representing every state and territory. Victoria’s team of 14 men and women aged 18-58 and a Para-sports athlete collected three team match and three individual titles as well as all Individual Aggregate national titles (women, men and juniors). However, it was their consistent shooting across all matches, by the entire team, that saw Victoria win the overall Team Aggregate Championship and take home the Manton Shield.

Active Holidays - Wyndham City Council

Wyndham City’s Active Holidays program partners with local community organisations to offer free sport and physical activity sessions for 3-18 year olds during school holidays. In 2024, there were 3,554 attendances to 170 sessions with activities including athletics, table tennis, football, lacrosse, dance, martial arts and yoga, to name just a few. Information is then shared on ways to continue participation with organisations. The program offers members of Wyndham’s culturally diverse community a chance to connect and participate within trusted sport and active recreation settings, all providers sign Memorandum of Understanding’s to help cover Child Safe practices and regular check-ups ensure the sessions remain welcoming, safe and inclusive.

Active Kinders - Wyndham City Council

In its fourth year, Wyndham City Council’s Active Kinders program reached new heights by engaging 3,500 kindergarten-aged children and their families in 2024. Free weekly Mini Movers sessions with Leisure Networks provided a fun and engaging environment for children to develop fundamental motor skills while during school holidays, four active Kinder Days offered 60 come and try sessions to explore different sports and activities which raised awareness of participation pathways and strengthened connections between residents and local sports providers. A key innovation in this program, 'Active Alex' sees kindergarten groups provided a backpack with accessible sports equipment and activity ideas to help stay moving at home before returning to class and sharing their experiences.

GO Family - Maribyrnong City Council

A six-week free program for children and parents of all skill levels to participate in fun, skill-building activities, GO Family is led by experienced coaches from Football Victoria and local clubs. Fostering a love for sport in a social, judgment-free environment, the program was made accessible as it was delivered at varying locations at varied times to accommodate diverse family schedules. Parents also gained valuable coaching insights through the FV Club Coach Coordinator Program. From 150+ registrants, 83% stated the program allowed families to spend more time together and 80% said it encouraged them to be more active.

Water Safety with Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place - City of Kingston

Following conversations with City of Kingston’s inclusive community team and local Elders, a gap in water skills and water participation for First Nations children was identified. Waves Leisure Centre and the Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place came together to increase the accessibility and swimming skills of First Nations children, focusing on increasing swimming confidence, fundamental skills such as floating, water safety and rescue techniques as well as drowning prevention outcomes. Utilising feedback from the pilot program which highlighted cost of living pressures and lack of equipment, the second program provided swim bags, bathers, goggles and passes to access the pool after the event to help continue participants’ water education.

Bendigo Hawks Aquatic - Swimming

Bendigo Hawks Aquatic’s (BHA) motto, "Hawks fly higher," is the driving force behind its commitment to community engagement and sporting excellence, with its "Hawks Care Program” fostering a culture of giving back while nurturing the competitive spirit of young swimmers and its integration of Swimming Victoria’s FUN SWIM program preparing 7-12 year-old members for competitive swimming and seamless club experience. In 2024, BHA’s membership increased by 65% including 22 new members aged 40+, three new Foundation Coaches and a Membership Officer were introduced, resulting in a 225% increase in "Come & Try" squad swimming nights and the innovative "Lap Legends" program continues to foster social connection and well-being within the City of Greater Bendigo.

Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club - Football

Under the shadows of the Fitzroy Commission Flats, Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club’s (FLSC) goal is to remove financial, cultural and/or logistical barriers that prevent young people from playing football. More than 80% of the club’s members live in public housing and they have grown from 32 to 133 participants in five years while now possessing seven teams and a growing wait list. They also run a Senior Men’s and Women’s team, All-Abilities program in partnership with Welcoming Australia, primary school outreach programs and engage 650+ young people annually through community events and leadership programs. FLSC also assists families with challenges including transport, subsidised fees and employment opportunities.

Rise Netball Club - Netball

2024 saw Rise Netball Club introduce mandatory Child Safety and Inclusion Training for all officials and coaches while processes were implemented to support fair and inclusive court time, a safety-based photography policy and a formal complaints process. Junior members of the club are offered many pathways including for umpiring and coaching with a Netfit coaching workshop involving 70 participants and three development programs (GO and Foundations training) run. Other key metrics saw the club’s total teams grow from 23 to 26, players increase from 190 to 290, coaches from 16 to 23 and umpires from 15 to 20 through the year.

Sorrento Cricket Club - Sorrento

In 2024, Sorrento Cricket Club brought in their first women’s and U18 girls’ teams, engaged a women’s health physiotherapist presenter, provided female-appropriate uniforms and held the EmpowerHer: Multi-sport Carnival which introduced 80 girls aged 9-17 to a range of sports in a supportive, fun environment. Overall, the club increased their teams from three to six and their junior teams grew by 70% with over 100 registrants. Another initiative that has replaced traditional in-person presentations, the Sharks Kids Explainer video is aimed at junior players, parents and members with disability to promote injury prevention.

Meaghan Densley - Sailing

General Manager Victoria at Sailing Australia, Meaghan secured a $160,000 grant to increase the number of qualified officials, coaches and instructors within her sport. Across 2024, this led to a 3% increase in club membership, an 11% surge in Learn to Sail participants, a 10% bump in grassroots programs that now feature 1,500+ participants and a 30% increase in female and junior participation through Discover Sailing which is aimed at regional and lower socio-economic areas. Meaghan successfully led the Victorian Sailing Summit that looked at participation growth and inclusivity topics and oversaw 100% of Victorian clubs receiving support and visits in 2024 to reach a three-year high in club satisfaction.

Scott McNaughton - Rugby League

Scott (Operations Manager) has overseen NRL Victoria’s growth by helping to increase participation by 20% year on year since 2022. This is through social competitions aimed at making the sport accessible to everyone including League Tag Jam, the reintroduction of Women’s League Tag and the Harmony Cup, one of the world’s largest rugby league festivals with 80 teams and 1,600 participants celebrating the diversity within the rugby league community. Female Footy Festival, City v Country, the largest Masters program in Australia and Friday Night Lights with modified formats aimed specifically for girls were also run while the Goulburn Murray Storm Premiership grew by 25% including establishing junior competitions for the first time in over a decade.

Natalie Pafralis - Football/Futsal

In 2024, Natalie played a key role in growing football participation and strengthening community connections. She coordinated the inaugural Victorian Cup of Nations (VCON), welcoming 257 players including 220 new to Football Victoria competitions, 160 older adults in Walking Football and 105 children in beginner-friendly football sessions while partnering with local councils and suppliers to provide free entry, uniforms, boots and shin guards which ensured all participants could fully engage in the competition. She supported Victoria’s teams for the National Futsal Championships, overseeing logistics for 180+ players and worked collaboratively to secure free registration and waived entry fees for Victoria’s All Abilities team. Natalie also expanded grassroots opportunities by facilitating the entry of two new clubs into FV competitions in 2024.

Sarah Simpson - Basketball

With Westgate Basketball Association being a volunteer-led organisation, Sarah holds a number of roles including overseeing programs as well as stakeholder and government advocacy efforts, leading fundraising and sponsorship campaigns and the development of Westgate’s referee program. She was fundamental in gaining Council approval for a new six-court indoor stadium while Westgate’s domestic competition has expanded rapidly during her time, growing from 200 to 300+ teams. They also received approval for Men’s and Women’s teams to compete in the Big V and their Big V Youth League Men’s team took home the premiership in their inaugural season.

Big Issue Community Street Soccer - Football

At just 15 years old, Henri and Miles put together an outstanding year in the 29er class and found success often against older, more experienced sailors. Their achievements included first place at Sail Melbourne, the Zhik Victorian Youth Championships, Sail Sandy and Schnapper Point Regatta while also finishing second at the Victorian State Championships. Progressing through to compete nationally, Henri and Miles placed first in the Junior Division and sixth overall at the Australian Championships which earned them selection to the Australian Sailing Youth Squad for the World Championships, set to be held in Portugal in December 2025.

Inclusive Sports Training - Triathlon

Focusing on fun, fitness and sports training through triathlon and other activities, Inclusive Sports Training (IST) supports individuals with learning difficulties and Intellectual Impairment (II). Led by Liz Gosper and Archie Talbot, IST organise weekly sessions, international camps and attend events to support their athletes including working with the World Triathlon Executive Board to gain recognition for athletes with II who had qualified for the 2024 World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Townsville. Empowering athletes to achieve what they may never have thought possible, IST also works with schools and provides coaching experiences with nine II athletes getting the opportunity to be paid doing something they love.

June Bamblett - Basketball, Football, Netball

A dedicated leader in the Aboriginal community, June drives programs that empower Aboriginal youth, support families and strengthen cultural identity through her work at VACSAL. Ensuring that their resilience camps, leadership programs and sporting carnivals are inclusive, culturally safe and accessible to all, her efforts saw record participation numbers in 2024 including 1,450 juniors, 430 women footballers and 1,000 basketballers. June secures transport funding for those carnivals and her tireless advocacy for Aboriginal inclusion bridges community and government to ensure Aboriginal voices shape policy and programs while also encouraging equality across underprivileged participants.

Pride Hub - Proud 2 Play

The world’s first pride activation at a Grand Prix event, the Pride Hub was delivered by Proud 2 Play and Racing Pride and spearheaded by Kade Matthews. Creating a visible, inclusive space for LGBTIQA+ fans, athletes and allies, the Hub featured main stage talks with queer Australian and international motorsport professionals, pit walk access for queer STEM students and education for public-facing staff and security. The activation led to the formation of a queer-led racing team to be unveiled in 2025, prompted an eight-month exhibit at the UK’s National Motorsport Museum on queer history in motorsport and has inspired discussions for future pride activations at other Grand Prix events worldwide.