2024 Victorian Sport Awards Finalists
Congratulations to the below individuals, organisations, clubs and Local Government Authorities for progressing through to the finalist stage of the 2024 Victorian Sport Awards (VSAs). Winners will be announced when the VSAs are held in the Members Dining Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday 14 May, 2025.
This award is open to Victorian community coaches who have made a significant contribution to their club and/or association/district during the 2024 calendar year, with a particular focus on improving community sport through encouraging participation, fairness, integrity and making sport more welcoming and inclusive.
Finalists
Samantha Batty - Sailing A calming, patient influence who still holds a strong on-water presence at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, Samantha is recognised for her ability to help beginner sailors overcome their nerves and fears of trying a new sport. She has created accessible resources such as a “what to pack for sailing” poster while her information sessions pass on knowledge that empowers others to provide inclusive and fun opportunities for sailors. Upskilling to an instructor, Samantha now has First Aid/CPR accreditation, Powerboat handling accreditation and a VHF Marine Radio licence. |
Madelaine Breakspear - Football
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Connor Drysdale - Netball 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 Watson - Life Saving
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This award is open to Victorian coaches who have achieved outstanding coaching performance/s with Victorian athlete/s or teams during the 2024 year.
Finalist
Ian Ewing - Bowls Taking a lead role in driving the professionalism of Bowls Victoria’s High Performance program across his four state sides, Ian’s responsibilities range from Development and Para athletes to Open and Senior teams. He led the engagement of partners such as the Victorian Institute of Sport to formalise a program of athlete development that includes the use of performance psychologists and culture and values workshops. Results-wise, Ian won gold medals in Mixed Paris at the World Bowls Indoor Championship, in Men’s Singles, Men’s Triples, Women’s Triples and Men’s Fours at the Oceania Challenge while his Brunswick Bowls Club finished top of the ladder in Section 1 of Division 1. |
Gerard Murphy - Netball
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Prateeti Sabhlok - Artistic Swimming
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Jimmy Soufis - Futsal
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This award is open to Victorian Masters athletes or teams who have achieved outstanding results in respect to their performances at a national and/or international level during the 2024 calendar year.
Finalists
Ashley Braszell - Cycling |
Glenn Busby - Tennis |
Nadene Gole - Golf |
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. |
This award recognises the exceptional contribution made by a volunteer to the Victorian sport and active recreation community during the 2024 calendar year. The recipient's contribution will have provided benefit to, or had a positive impact upon, an individual sport or the industry and their contribution and commitment will have distinguished them from their peers.
Finalists
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.
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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. |
This award recognises an outstanding community sporting event that has been delivered successfully and benefitted the local community in 2024. The event will have demonstrated inclusive practices and provided benefit to, or had a positive impact upon, an individual sport or the local community.
Finalists
Junior State Championships - Hockey Victoria |
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 |
Victorian Cup of Nations - Football Victoria |
This award is open to Victorian community officials who have demonstrated excellence in their role as an official of their chosen sport during the 2024 year.
Finalists
Peter Boulter - Cricket Peter’s presence and experience
across multiple competitions, such as Sale-Maffra Women’s T20’s, Men’s 1
st
XI, Dowling Shield at Premier level and the Over 65s National Cricket
Championships not only reflects his own pursuit of excellence but his
dedication to ensure community cricket is inclusive and enjoyable for all.
Currently completing a Cricket Australia Representative Umpire Accreditation,
Peter regularly attends club training sessions to ensure he remains up-to-date
with the latest rules and best practices. Known for his approachable nature and
respectful conduct, Peter plays a vital role within the umpire panel where he
shares extensive knowledge to support the development of his peers.
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Stephen McLennan - Athletics
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. |
Sarah Pinkerton - Life Saving
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Liam Smith - Life Saving
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. |
https://www.sportsaccounting.com.au/
This award is open to Victorian officials who have demonstrated excellence in their role as an official of their chosen sport during the 2024 year.
Finalists
Joshua Burt - Hockey Responsible for talent ID, development, mentoring and appointment of officials throughout the country as part of Hockey Australia’s Officiating Advisory Group, Joshua oversaw nine umpires, one umpire manager and three technical officials in international events through 2024 – a record number for Victoria. Maintaining his own high standard of officiating during this time, he also delivered a number of FIH officiating courses across the year including in Singapore and India. Holding the highest level of accreditation possible in international hockey, Joshua was a 2024 Paris Olympics Technical Delegate. |
Alan Hopkins - Table Tennis
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Matthew Quick - Tennis
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Cynthia Tam - Badminton 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. |
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 the 2024 calendar year. This could be through a single initiative, event or longer-term initiative (i.e. program, project or campaign) which has provided significant benefit to Victorian sport during 2024.
Finalists
CaliStars - Calisthenics Victoria |
Junior West Softball League - Softball |
Specialist Hoops Victoria - Basketball |
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. |
https://www.rebelsport.com.au/
This award recognises Victorian junior athletes who have achieved outstanding results in respect to performance/s at a national and/or international level during the 2024 calendar year.
Finalists
Brock Batty - Trampolining |
Tahlia Denham - Basketball, Cricket, Netball |
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 |
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 2024. Through positive and inspiring media coverage, the sport has benefited from an improved public-facing image, increased participation, inclusivity and/or greater exposure.
Finalists
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 |
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. |
This award recognises a Victorian individual athlete who has achieved outstanding results in respect to performance/s at a national/international level in the male category during the 2024 year.
Finalists
Scotty James - Snowboarding |
Kelland O'Brien - Cycling |
John Peers - Tennis |
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. |
This award recognises a Victorian individual athlete who has achieved outstanding results in respect to performance/s at a national/international level in the female category during the 2024 year.
Finalists
Jakara Anthony - Mogul Skiing |
Grace Brown - Cycling |
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.
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https://aflsportsready.com.au/
This award recognises a Victorian junior team who has achieved outstanding results with respect to their performances at a national, international level during the 2024 calendar year.
Finalists
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. |
This award recognises a Victorian team who has achieved outstanding results in respect to their performances at a state, national and/or international level during the 2024 calendar year.
Finalists
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. |
https://trade.bunnings.com.au/
This award recognises a Local Government Authority who has made a significant contribution to sport in 2024 through the development of a participation program or facility.
Finalists
Active Holidays - Wyndham City Council Partnering with local community
organisations to offer free sport and physical activity programs for 3-18 year
old’s during school holidays, Wyndham City Council provided over 170 activities
in 2024 that covered athletics, table tennis, football, lacrosse, dance,
martial arts and yoga to name just a few. 3,554 attendees took part, enabling
organisations to follow-up beyond the school holidays while it offered members
of the Wyndham CALD community a chance to connect and participate in sport and
active recreation in a trusted setting. All providers signed MoU’s to help
cover Child Safe practices and regular check-ups ensured the sessions remained
welcoming, safe and inclusive.
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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.
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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. |
https://lovethegame.vic.gov.au/
This award recognises the outstanding contribution made in 2024 by a community sporting club and/or association who has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting participation in sport and active recreation. The club will have demonstrated actions that break down barriers so that anyone, regardless of their age, cultural background, ability, gender identity, religious belief or sexual orientation, feels welcome in sport.
Finalists
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.
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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. |
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/
This award is open to Victorian sports administrators who have demonstrated an outstanding level of achievement during the 2024 calendar year at the State Sporting Association, Regional Sports Assembly, Local Government Authority 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.
Finalists
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.
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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.
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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. |
The Peter Norman Inclusion Award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to safe, fair and inclusive sport in the 2024 calendar year. The recipient would have demonstrated actions that break down barriers for people accessing sport so that anyone, regardless of their age, cultural background, ability, gender identity, religious belief or sexual orientation feels welcome in sport.
Finalists
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.
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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. |
The Victorian Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award is presented to an individual or organisation in recognition of outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, sport in Victoria.
Based on their significant role in the Victorian sport and active recreation sector, the winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award will be recommended by a panel of expert industry representatives to the Vicsport Board who will determine the final recipient.
It is the only award presented at the Victorian Sport Awards which is not decided upon by the judging panels.