Finalists announced for 2019 Victorian Sport Awards
The Victorian Sport Awards is the night of nights for the Victorian sporting community, recognising and celebrating the achievements of our home-grown premier athletes, grassroots heroes and those who have shown commitment and dedication to community sport in Victoria.
Presented by the State Government of Victoria and Vicsport on Wednesday 26 February, 2020 at Marvel Stadium, the Victorian Sport Awards honours individual and team athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers from both metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Each year the Victorian Sport Awards receives hundreds of nominations from State Sporting Associations, Regional Sport Assemblies, Local Government Authorities, teammates, club members, coaches or their local community in recognition of their outstanding contribution to sport and active recreation.
The Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport Award is new this year. This inaugural Award recognises the coverage of elite and community sport to the wider public via various online, digital, broadcast and/or print media platforms in 2019.
The Hon. Martin Pakula, Minister for Racing, Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events says:
“Congratulations to all the finalists, from world-beaters like Scotty James and Liz Watson to the community teams, volunteers and coaches who lead the way at grassroots level.”
“Juniors and masters, volunteers and professionals, individuals and teams – the Victorian Sport Awards recognise the very best in our sporting endeavours.”
Vicsport Chairman Ron Gauci says:
“The Victorian Sport Awards is a premier event on the Victorian sporting calendar. Vicsport is delighted to recognise and celebrate the wonderful achievements of our home-grown sporting heroes, from grassroots and community through to the elite level.
“The calibre of nominations in 2019 and subsequently the finalists chosen are an indication of the strength of our industry in Victoria and makes the process of judging winners a challenging but rewarding one. We look forward to honouring the success of our finalists at the 2019 Victorian Sport Awards in February.”
The quality and breadth of the nominations received makes selecting the finalists a difficult endeavour, which is why the 2019 Victorian Sport Awards invites 39 highly qualified people from the Victorian sports industry to constitute the judging panels charged with picking the finalists across the 18 categories.
Judges include people from various diverse sporting groups and roles including:
Steve Moneghetti AM OLY, represented Australia at four Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games and six World Championships. Winner of the 1989 and 1995 Male Athlete of the Year and 2001 Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award:
Kyle Vander Kuyp OLY, 12 times National Hurdles Champion, Olympic finalist
Sharelle McMahon, Two-time Netball World Champion, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist
Bill Mildenhall, all-time NBL referee games record holder, two-time Olympic referee
Held at Marvel Stadium, the Victorian Sport Awards will be attended by all finalists, family, friends, sporting organisations and clubs to celebrate the successes of elite and community sport in Victoria.
Last year's Awards attracted 500 attendees including many of Victoria’s premier athletes and grassroots heroes.
Event details:
Wednesday 26 February, 2020
Marvel Stadium, Docklands
6pm – 7pm – Refreshments and canapes
7pm - 9.30pm - Awards ceremony
9.30pm - 10pm - Post-event networking and refreshments
To purchase tickets, visit www.victoriansportawards.com.au. For further information, contact Vicsport on 03 9698 8100, email awards@vicsport.com.au.
Finalists in all categories of the 2019 Victorian Sport Awards are as follows:
Southern Cross Trophies Coach of the Year
Lisa Alexander (Netball)
Jeff Hopkins (Football)
Peter McNeil (Mogul Skiing)
Scott Talbot (Swimming)
Community Coach of the Year
Hannah Every-Hall (Rowing)
Yvonne Fantin (Tennis)
Karen Garrard (Swimming)
Dee Stark (Gymnastics)
Sports Accounting Australia Official of the Year
Sandy Gagnon (Curling)
Kim Ivett (Billiards & Snooker)
Susan Taylor (Badminton)
Christine Wallis (Equestrian)
Gray-Nicolls Sports Community Official of the Year
Robert Graham (Motorsport)
Meg Hopper (Netball)
Tony Ruddick (Triathlon)
Sally Whitehouse (Swimming)
SportsTG Sports Administrator of the Year - Eunice Gill Award
John Ballis (Reclink Australia)
Grant Cosgriff (Triathlon)
Libby Mears (Leisure Networks)
Andrew Skillern (Hockey)
Volunteer of the Year
Athena Babo (Football)
Ron & Beryl Banbury (AFL & Netball)
Ronda Jenkins (Athletics)
Pauline Zealley (Netball)
Love the Game Community Sporting Club of the Year
Carrum Bowling Club (Bowls)
Corio Bay Rowing Club (Rowing)
Kyvalley Tennis Club (Tennis)
Ocean Grove SLSC (Life Saving)
Involve Creative Masters Athlete of the Year
Patrick Galvin (Swimming)
Bradley Norton (Track Cycling)
Mark Thompson (Swimming)
Shirley Whitaker (Tennis)
Team of the Year
Senior State Table Tennis team (Table Tennis)
Victorian Fury (Netball)
Victorian Physical Disability State side (Lawn Bowls)
Williamstown IRB Female Tube Rescue team (Life Saving)
View Melbourne Young Team of the Year
Archery Victoria Compound State team (Archery)
Under-14 Victoria Boys Blue (Volleyball)
Victorian Equestrian Interschools team (Equestrian)
Victorian Junior Road Team (Road Cycling)
Global Wellness Tracking Young Athlete of the Year
Amy Lawton (Field Hockey)
Gabriella Peiniger (Swimming)
Cooper White (Tennis)
Hayley Wilson (Street Skateboarding)
Governor's Award Victorian Male Athlete of the Year - Frank Wilkes Award
Dylan Alcott (Tennis)
Mitch Gourley (Para Alpine Skiing)
Scotty James (Snowboard Halfpipe)
Matthew Temple (Swimming)
Governor's Award Victorian Female Athlete of the Year - Kitty McEwan Award
Jakara Anthony (Mogul Skiing)
Anna Lynch (Billiards)
Lucy Stephan (Rowing)
Liz Watson (Netball)
Bunnings Local Government Initiative of the Year
Casey Stadium-City of Casey
2x2 Basketball Tournament- City of Port Phillip
Creating Change Through Policy- Moreland City Council
The Sports Capacity Plan: Sports Fields- Mornington Peninsula Shire
VicHealth Active Recreation Initiative of the Year
Bowling with Babies- Port Melbourne Bowling Club
Gym4Me- Gymnastics Victoria
Melbourne Tennis Month- Tennis Victoria
Social Football Wonthaggi- Bass Coast Breakers
My Sport Live Community Sporting Event of the Year
Festival of Sport- Kardinia Park Stadium Trust
Mazenod Panthers All Abilities- Mazenod Panthers All-Abilities Football Team
Tennis Victoria Country Week- Tennis Victoria
Victorian Sikh Games- Victorian Sikh Games Organising Committee
Peter Norman Inclusion Award
Emma Staples (Cricket)
Gymnastics Victoria (Gymnastics)
Naomi Symington & Janet Jones (Life Saving)
Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd. (VACSAL) (AFL/Netball/Basketball)
Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport (inaugural award)
Chicks Talking Footy (AFL)
Football Victoria (Football)
Lachlan Rayner (Athletics/Little Athletics)
Andrew Weiss (all sports)
