https://www.ajg.com.au/

This award is open to Victorian community coaches who have made a significant contribution to their club and/or association/district during the 2025 calendar year, with a particular focus on improving community sport through encouraging participation, fairness, integrity and making sport more welcoming and inclusive.

Finalists

Alana Baldi – Cricket

Returning to coaching for the first time in 2025 since living with a traumatic brain injury, Alana coached openly with a disability and created and coached the first ever Numurkah Youth Club Cricket Club All-Abilities program. She showed the participants that strength isn’t defined by what you have lost and that challenges do not limit potential but rather shape it. Prior to returning, Alana refreshed her skills and knowledge through online modules and engaged in lessons around sensory inclusion and adaptive coaching methods. Through her inclusive leadership and lived experience, Alana created an environment where barriers were removed, trust was built, and all players felt genuinely welcome.

Narelle Draper – Netball

The epitome of leadership at Hazel Glen Netball Club, Narelle not only coached five teams during 2025 (U13, U15, two U17 teams and opens) but was the head coach for a school academy program, participated in multiple coaching clinics and served as President. Establishing a culture of community and embracing diversity, Narelle is a constant source of support and guidance for coaches and players, especially for those looking to find a path towards coaching. Narelle also holds a development coach accreditation in the Netball Australia pathway and participated in the national body’s coaching leadership program.

Rebecca Farnell – Calisthenics

At Pentland Calisthenics College, Rebecca coaches a diverse team of women aged 26-70 and has forged a welcoming, inclusive environment by tailoring choreography to individual strengths. Since she began coaching, team numbers have tripled and her encouragement has led to Masters competing in solos and duos for the first time at the College. Dedicated to thorough preparation and positive communication, Rebecca inspires athletes to support one another and she recently completed a Youth Engagement Project training module to strengthen communication and engagement practices.

John Fleming – Cricket

Having played cricket for 40+ years, John’s philosophy is that the future of cricket clubs lies in its juniors, a belief that guides his work as senior coach at Neerim District Cricket Club. Refusing to let their Division 5 team fall due to lack of players in 2025, John arranged seven juniors to fill the team each week and dedicated his time to developing their talents regardless of age, gender or skill level to ensure they felt comfortable. He is always seen working one-on-one with players during training sessions and ensures everyone is given a fair go including selecting appropriate bowlers so opposition batters are not outmatched and discouraged.

https://leasexpress.com.au/

This award is open to Victorian coaches who have achieved outstanding coaching performance/s with Victorian athlete/s or teams during the 2025 year.

Finalists

Jessica Haintz – Gymnastics

As head coach of the Victorian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics State Team, Jessica led Victoria to win the Cheales-Williamson Shield at the Australian Gymnastics Championships as the highest performing state. Her athletes won gold and silver in the All-Around competition of the Developing International category while Victoria secured team gold in three high-performance divisions. Internationally, Jessica represented Australia at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge Cup in Germany, was selected as the Australian coach for the 3rd FIG Junior World Championships and was appointed as an Australian judge for the Senior Team competing at the 2025 Continental Championships, strengthening alignment between coaching and judging standards.

Ryan Holloway – Basketball

Leading the Australian Boomerangs (the national basketball team for athletes with intellectual disability) at the 2025 Virtus World Championships in Kazakhstan, Ryan’s teams secured gold in the 3x3 and 5x5 formats. Three Boomerangs players were selected to the All-Star 5 team and Jack Inella was named MVP of the men’s 3x3 competition while Ryan was invited as an Australian representative to conduct a specialised coaching session with the Kazakhstan state team. Domestically, Ryan claimed his third consecutive national championship title at the Ivor Burge tournament. He coached Victoria to gold without dropping a game, capping off the campaign with a 116-51 victory over South Australia in the final.

Craig Jackson – Swimming

Under Craig’s coaching in 2025, Nick Sloman, Tara Kinder and David Schlicht were selected to the Australian World Championships team and his pathway impact included development of five additional athletes into Swimming Victoria’s Horton Squad which recognises athletes who exist outside traditional performance pathways squads. Craig led Victoria as head coach of the US Open campaign in Austin and was appointed as an Australian coach for the Duel in the Pool competition, helping him to earn Swimming Victoria honours as Victorian Coach of the Year and Victorian Open Water Coach of the Year.

Peter McNiel – Skiing

The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia’s mogul skiing head coach, Peter led his team to a number of outstanding results in 2025. Charlotte Wilson recorded her first career victory before being named FIS World Cup Rookie of the Year while he guided Jakara Anthony back from a broken collarbone to win gold at the FIS World Cup in Finland; a year and one day since her injury. Matt Graham finished the World Cup season ranked fifth overall after winning his fifth World Cup gold medal in Finland. Placed fourth after day one, he controlled all three stages on day two to once again stand atop the podium.

https://involvegroup.com.au/

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 2025 calendar year.

Finalists

Lisa Griffiths – Judo

Hailing from Hawthorn Judo Club, Lisa returned to the sport after a 34-year break and found instant success when she won gold at the World Masters Games in May which are held every four years with this iteration being hosted by Taiwan. She followed that up in Paris with a bronze at the World Veterans Judo Championships but may rue what could have been as she had to medically retire due to a dislocated elbow. 

Genevieve Jordan – Cycling

Featuring in a team of three mums and on debut in a world event, Genevieve claimed gold at the UCI Masters Track World Championships in the women’s 35-44 Team Sprint. That team also established a national record in the qualifying round. Genevieve then went on to claim a second gold in the 50-54 Women’s Sprint. Earlier in the year, the Brunswick Cycling Club representative had success at a national level with individual wins in the WMAS 5 Time Trial, Sprint and Keirin and team wins in the Open Team Sprint and Team Pursuit.

Jenny Pettenon – Cycling

Jenny took out AusCycling’s Masters Road Female Athlete of the Year award for 2025 after winning the National Championships’ time trial and road race in the masters 5 category while also setting the fastest time of any woman on the Individual Time Trial course. The Hawthorn Cycling Club rider backed up those efforts on the Great Ocean Road at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships with gold in the WMAS 5 time trial and road race and a silver medal in the team relay.  Jenny also had great success on the gravel in 2025, where she claimed the Australian National Gravel Championships Title for WMAS 5.

Cindy Rella – Kettlebell

Setting ten Australian records across multiple events in 2025, it was no surprise that Cindy was named Girevoy Sport Australia Masters Lifter of the Year in both Marathon and Traditional kettlebell lifting. At the Oceania Championships in Melbourne, Cindy delivered an outstanding performance in front of a home crowd, winning two gold medals and setting a world record. She then travelled to Milan in June for the World Championships, where she claimed five gold medals, one silver medal, adding four more world records.

www.vicsport.com.au 

This award recognises a volunteer of the Victorian sport and active recreation community who has made a positive difference to the opportunities and experiences available to others during 2025. They could be a volunteer administrator, official, umpire or coach, who has provided support, encouragement or inspiration through hard work; often through self-sacrifice and without personal gain.

Finalists

Daniel Fabien – Basketball

Daniel has had a profound impact on basketball as team manager of the Casey Cavaliers women, the Victorian Ivor Burge men’s team where he plays a central role in helping athletes with intellectual disability access high-performance pathways and the Australian Boomerangs national team. Known as “Papa Fabes”, Daniel’s impact extended beyond logistical organisation for these teams in 2025, providing emotional support for a player experiencing mental health challenges away from home and working well into the night to coordinate flights home from an overseas tournament amongst geopolitical conflicts. Daniel's contribution extends to solving systemic eligibility challenges—guiding athletes through state classifications for the Ivor Burge competition, then navigating international requirements with Sport Inclusion Australia—ensuring talented athletes aren't lost to bureaucratic complexity at either level.

Reg Poxon – Swimming

As President of Moe Amateur Swimming Club, Reg oversaw the implementation of their strategic plan which has resulted in a thriving club where swimmers of all ages and abilities feel supported and motivated. His project management expertise ensured the successful delivery of the club’s annual swim meet, fundraising events and development days. Reg also has strong connections with local businesses resulting in sustainable sponsorships for the club and he played a pivotal advocacy role to bring in a $2.5m federal funding commitment to heat the outdoor 50-metre pool which will help provide all-year access for the community.

Huw Provis – Sailing

Maintenance Coordinator and Head Skipper for the Making Waves programs in Geelong, Huw was responsible for overseeing up to six sail programs each week featuring 750 sailors. These programs included safety checks and meaningful on-water experiences for young people with disability, those facing disadvantage and at-risk youth. Huw also volunteered with the Wright of Passage boat-building program, working directly with young participants to develop practical trade skills, teamwork and confidence. He also provided sailing training and coaching to participants in their own built Rainbow dinghy which directly resulted in new participants joining their local sailing club.

Veronica Treloar – Life Saving

The Volunteer Coordinator for the Starfish Nippers Program at Williamstown Swimming & Life Saving Club, Veronica coordinated and delivered an adaptive nippers program for children with disability. She designed the program, coordinated volunteers and ensured participants and families felt safe and welcomed by maintaining a 1:1 volunteer-to-participant ratio. Veronica strengthened the club’s culture through mentoring volunteers and delivering Disability Awareness Training, embedding inclusion as a core club value. Through her involvement with Life Saving Victoria’s Adaptive Sport Working Group, Veronica helped introduce adaptive events at three major carnivals for 23 children and young people with disability.

https://www.mysportlive.tv/

This award recognises an outstanding community sporting event that has been delivered successfully and benefitted the local community in 2025. 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

2025 National Sports Tournament – Queer Sporting Alliance

The QSA National Sports Tournament is a flagship community event that demonstrates the powerful role community sport plays in strengthening inclusion, resilience and connection. The event brings together members from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies over two days for netball and basketball round robin competitions as well as roller skating come-and-try sessions. NST is purposefully designed to be safer, more inclusive and welcoming for people of vast identities, bodies and abilities. QSA partners with Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) to improve sensory accessibility and engages Deadly Sports Plus to provide culturally safe first-aid. Event activations such as the Queer Community Market created meaningful connections for queer artists and service providers, leading to almost doubling participation numbers year on year.

2025 Victorian Country Long Course Championships – Mildura Swimming Club

Hosted at Mildura Waves, the 2025 Victorian Country Long Course Swimming Championships brought together 800 swimmers and more than 3,000 visitors for three days of high‑level regional competition across 108 races. In extreme heat, organisers delivered extensive cooling measures and attendees praised the focus on safety and inclusion in the post-championships survey as, for the first time, equal event opportunities were provided for swimmers with disability. Creating a lasting connection with the region, the economic impact saw at least $2 million injected into the Mildura community over three days of competition.

The Dimboola Regatta – Dimboola Rowing Club

Run by locals, The Dimboola Regatta has transformed from a regular rowing regatta to a whole community event with local markets, shops and accommodation all becoming involved to create a true festive atmosphere. A two-day event that features 750m racing on Saturday before a 6.2km Head of the Wimmera race on Sunday, the Regatta has also attracted schools such as Hamilton Alexandra College and visiting sporting clubs to use Dimboola’s facilities for training camps. This has been a major boost to an area of roughly 1,600 residents that also experienced a population decline between 2016 and 2021.

Maccas City Cup – Melbourne City FC

Australia’s largest junior weekend soccer tournament, the Maccas City Cup at Casey Fields and nearby reserves unites 370 boys and girls teams (ranging from Under-7’s to Under-16’s) across 30 pitches in three days of competition. Families enjoyed live music, games and a diverse food‑truck precinct while traffic management and safeguarding measures were implemented to protect 8,700 participants and spectators. Girls’ participation extended from 112 teams the previous year to 125 in 2025 with the added incentive of free‑entry to an A-League Women’s match offered to all participants. Football Victoria data has also shown a 24% increase in City of Casey football participation since the start of the Maccas City Cup in 2022.

https://etrainu.com/

This award is open to Victorian community officials who have demonstrated excellence in their role as an official of their chosen sport during the 2025 year.

Finalists

Sue Andrews – Rowing

A proud Gamilaroi woman now living in Nagambie, Sue served as a committee member of the Nagambie Rowing Club and was Chair of Organising the two-day Nagambie Regatta in 2025. Despite living regionally, her knowledge and reliability led her to be a committee member of the Victorian Sculling Association which delivered the Winter Sculling Series on the Yarra River and she also holds the position of Vice President of the Rowing Victoria Board. Through her familiarity with the sport as a competitor and coach, Sue has worked to gain her National Accreditation of Level 2 Umpiring. 

Mary Collins - Life Saving

As a member of South Melbourne Life Saving Club, Mary balances rule enforcement with empathy as judge, mentor, assessor and appeals official at Life Saving Victoria. In addition to developing and delivering training sessions for new and experienced officials, she also actively attends pre-season development and upskilling workshops. Mary actively supported and mentored new and developing officials across Pool, Inflatable Rescue Boats, R&R and surf carnivals by providing on-the-job guidance, assessments and constructive feedback which led her to be recognised as Official of the Year at the Life Saving Victoria Awards of Excellence. Mary participated in international working groups for both Commonwealth and World (ILS) sport and has been appointed to senior officiating roles at National and International Lifesaving Championships.

Lynette Cousins – Calisthenics

Lynette serves as Chair of the Calisthenics Victoria Adjudicating Committee where she convenes and leads regular meetings to ensure clear communication and collaboration between adjudicators and the state body. She was instrumental in developing a new Victorian adjudication program and is actively involved in teaching and mentoring cadets while officiating herself across all areas of calisthenics from tots to masters in both solos and teams. Lynette has also led the further development of education and upskilling initiatives that equip adjudicators to officiate fairly and confidently across all programs, including Calistars which supports performers with disability. 

Stephen McLennan – Athletics

Based in Ballarat at the Wendouree Athletic Club, Stephen officiates at grassroots, state and international events in technical management and as a multi-skilled official. Willing to travel to all areas of Victoria, Stephen is responsible for ensuring equipment, sectors and infrastructure are ready for competition at events such as the Victorian Country Championships and the Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships. Mentoring younger officials, Stephen has guided them to step up to state and national Championships and allowed them to assume the role of Technical Manager with him as their assistant. Stephen also recently completed his World Athletics Bronze Referee exam.

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 2025 year.

Finalists

Richard Lawysz – Athletics

On behalf of Oceania Athletics, Richard was appointed as the Technical Delegate for three New Zealand World Athletics (WA) Bronze level meets, Field Referee for the Oceania Cup in Tonga and was also appointed as the Technical Delegate for the World Athletics Continental Gold Meet in Melbourne. He also delivered virtual officials’ seminars and mentored candidates for the WA Bronze Referee assessment as well as the National Athletics Referee pathway. As a WA Gold level Referee, he continued his professional development through presenting multiple educational seminars to assist officials, locally and nationally. Richard is also a member of Australian Athletics Operations Committee, which looks after and oversees Officials' Education, Evaluations, Selection, Mentoring and the Australian Standard of Officiating.

Tim Marshall – Netball

A mentor coach in the Victorian Netball League Reserves and the Netball Centre of Excellence Victoria, Tim delivers education sessions across Victoria and the Pacific Islands to support umpire development. He has demonstrated sustained commitment to high‑performance officiating with appointments including Netball World Youth Cup, Pacific Aus netball series, Nations Cup Singapore and Africa Cup Malawi. He umpired across finals in all of those 2025 international events attended as well as at the Victorian Netball League. Reflecting his dedication, Tim has an All-Australian Badge and received his International Umpire Award in 2025. 

Stephen Michetti – Cycling

Stephen officiated at 16 single and multi‑day events in 2025 that spanned state, national and international UCI competitions. These included Road and Track National Championships, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and the Tour Down Under. A long-time international Road and Track commissaire, he holds the highest national and UCI accreditations and strengthens the state’s technical workforce by mentoring and accrediting new officials across Victoria. Stephen also contributes actively to AusCycling’s national technical forums by aiding consistent, well‑communicated applications of regulations across the sport. 

Maria Patrikis – Football

While officiating at one of the highest levels of futsal in Australia at the National Futsal Championships representing Football Australia and regular appointments in the Victorian Series Futsal Premiership, Maria’s contribution to the officiating community extends beyond just match appointments. She actively supports emerging officials through personal guidance and in November, was selected into the inaugural AFC Futsal Referee Academy to undertake advanced international training under world-class instructors. Her excellence throughout the year directly led to her historic appointment to the FIFA Futsal Referee List for 2026, becoming the first female Australian to achieve this milestone.

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 2025 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 2025.

Finalists

Variety Abilities Unleashed Kids – Disability Sports Australia

Designed as a gateway into ongoing community participation, Variety Abilities Unleashed Kids is a statewide sport and active recreation initiative delivered by Disability Sports Australia in partnership with Variety Victoria. Providing children with disability a safe, welcoming and positive introduction to a wide range of sporting opportunities in community settings, Abilities Unleashed is focused on enjoyment, confidence and choice. 914 participants took part in the free events through 2025 and by delivering through local councils, leisure centres and sport providers as well as engaging with specialist schools, Abilities Unleashed Kids enabled participants and families to make direct connections within their local community.

Mornington LSC Schools Program – Mornington Life Saving Club

For primary and secondary school students, the Mornington Life Saving Club Schools Program is devised to enable more children to safely participate in beach, water-based and physical activities. This is done through practical activities such as basic first aid and CPR, lifesaving skills and modified aquatic experiences. The flexible program, delivered by trained instructors and water safety personnel, included support for deaf participants, subsidised sessions for financially disadvantaged participants, the use of a mobi-chair and adapted sessions for students from CALD communities which helped to garner engagement from 3,860 students across 24 schools.

Portland Tri-State Games – Kyeema Support Service Inc.

Traditionally coordinated by sports assemblies or local government, Kyeema Support Service Inc. became the first disability support service to host the week-long Tri-State Games in 2024 and again in 2025. The initiative encourages and promotes a range of sporting activities for people with disability and the chance to compete against peers in a fun environment. 275 competitors took part in 77 events while the Games also promoted disability awareness to the local community by hosting a street parade to open proceedings, social theme nights throughout the week and a Gala Ball to conclude the event featuring trophy presentations.

Total Teams Wellbeing Project – Baseball Victoria and Melbourne Winter Baseball League

Melbourne Winter Baseball League signed up to pilot the Wellbeing and Safeguarding Project from Baseball Victoria in 2025, aiming to make their sport more safe, supportive and inclusive. Each of the League’s 31 clubs nominated a Wellbeing and Safeguarding Lead to be taken through Total Teams’ workshops, led by Edwina Ricci. They focused on sharing strengths, challenges and inclusive practices to ensure baseball is welcoming to all, supports participation and retains players and volunteers as well as prioritising child and adult safeguarding. Forgoing lengthy documents for overworked volunteers to read, these workshops instead provided practical actions for leads to take back to their clubs.

https://winningedgepresentations.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 2025 calendar year.

Finalists

Milanke Haasbroek – Modern Pentathlon

A standout multi-discipline athlete across modern pentathlon and distance running, Milanke won Under-13 titles in both the tetrathlon (swimming, obstacles, laser shooting & running) and laser run at the 2025 Australian Nationals. In her first international competition, she claimed gold in the Under-13 laser run at the World Championships in South Africa — a UIPM modern pentathlon discipline — becoming Australia’s first world champion in modern pentathlon. Competing across multiple age categories, she also placed fifth in the Under-15 biathle, eighth in the u13 triathle, and secured silver in the Under-17 mixed biathle relay, demonstrating exceptional versatility and the ability to perform against older international competition.

Jack Howell – Paratriathlon

Coming off a year in which he competed at his first Paralympics, Jack was the winner at two 2025 World Triathlon Para Series events in Devonport and Italy. He also won silver at the World Series in Japan by just 1 second in a sprint finish. He crushed the competition in his home country, bringing home the gold three minutes quicker than his nearest rival. He then stood on the podium again at the World Championships in Wollongong where he finished runner-up to the Paris Paralympic gold medallist by only 28 seconds. Those results placed him number one in the world in Paratriathlon PTS5 by the end of the year.

Joshua Jolly – BMX

At the UCI BMX World Cup in the Netherlands, Josh went head-to-head with Dutchman Jason Noordam and ended the home-town hero’s streak of three consecutive titles to win the Under-23 Championship. The win capped off a special day for the 19-year old from Ballarat who strung together six victories without dropping a lap. His 2025 season was completed by finishing first at the Golden State Nationals and Pump Track Championships before being named the PULL BMX (International) Rookie Pro of the Year. 

Jonah Mercieca – Diving

At just 17 years of age, 2025 was a breakout year for Jonah as he qualified for his first World Aquatics Championships and earned selection to compete at three World Cup events. His standout performance came at the Canada Cup, winning gold in the Men’s 10m platform against multiple Olympic-medallist divers, gold in the team event and silver in the Men’s 10m Synchronised. He continued his form at the American Cup with three more medal performances before making his senior World Championships debut where he placed 14th in synchro and 19th in Individual.

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 2025. Through positive and inspiring media coverage, the sport has benefited from an improved public-facing image, increased participation, inclusivity and/or greater exposure.

Finalists

2025 Mattioli Victorian Age Long Course Championships – Swimming Victoria

The biggest event on the Swimming Victoria calendar, the Mattioli Victorian Age Long Course Championships saw 1600 participants across Asia, New Zealand and Australia compete. Each of the six days were broadcast live from Swimming Victoria’s YouTube channel as well as on Kayo Freebies with the coverage including expert commentators, special guests and pool deck interviews. This coverage improved connection across the swimming community, helped athletes analyse their own performances and increased the accessibility of the sport to the general public. By the close of the event, Swimming Victoria’s YouTube live stream reached 146,000 viewers.

Leah Keh – Victorian International Optimist Dinghy Association (VIODA)

In 2025, Leah led one of Victoria’s most effective junior sport media campaigns, producing 500+ content pieces and boosting VIODA’s social media following by over 50%, including on Facebook where they surpassed 1.1k followers. Her work also reached a global audience during the VIODA Qingdao Exchange, a program that allows Victorian sailors to travel and be guests of the Chinese Yachting Association. She also pushed out "Sail It Forward' program where sailing equipment was transferred to less privileged sailing countries to benefit other junior sailors of the world. Leah’s media storytelling helped drive major participation growth as state championships entries rose from 68 to 86, Green Fleet (a soft introduction to regatta life) participants increased from 15 to 26 and winter training attracted 40–50 sailors weekly.

Marnie Vinall – ABC

One of the most viral stories of 2025 was Marnie’s expose on the group of women from the Kyneton Football Netball Club who split from the organisation following claims of inequitable treatment, a ‘volatile environment’ and ongoing disrespect. Marnie followed the story throughout the year and the amplification helped take the issue to Parliament House while several MPs weighed in and other publications picked up on it. The reporting gave way to other women across Victoria telling similar stories, uncovering common issues amongst women's players including inequitable allocation of resources and access to grounds and facilities.

Red Energy Arena - Basketball

Red Energy Arena’s media strategy significantly elevated its national profile in 2025, led by the U16 National Basketball Championships which was Australia's most viewed sport event for that week. Engagement surged across platforms, with a focus on TikTok and Instagram, totalling more than 3.3 million views. Tailored content and youth-focused storytelling strengthened community perception, helped to boost junior participation by over 10% and attracted professional teams such as Melbourne United to the Arena – all reinforcing Bendigo as a leading destination for community and elite sport.

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 2025 year.

Finalists

Blake Agnoletto – Cycling

Among his many accomplishments through 2025, Blake’s victory in Australia’s longest one-day race, the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, during wild windswept conditions stands out. Blake also claimed the Stage 2 victory in the ProVelo Super League while at the Oceania Track Championships, he won gold in the elite men’s elimination race and silver in the elite men’s madison to showcase his talent both on road and track. As part of the men’s team at the Track World Championships in Santiago, Blake earned a silver medal and claimed another title in the team pursuit at the UCI Nations Cup in Konya.

Mark Bulka – Sailing

A year that cemented him as one of Australia’s most accomplished and respected sailors, Mark earned the 2025 Victorian Male Sailor of the Year award for his achievements across multiple classes. He became a five-time winner at the Contender World Championships while winning every heat on his way to the Australian Contender Championship as well. Mark dominated Victorian races, claiming first place finishes at the Victorian Contender Championship, Sail Sandy, Victorian Impulse Championship and at Lake Boga Tasars. He more than held his own internationally as well, standing on the podium at the Contender Pre-Worlds and Italian Contender Nationals as well as at Kiel Week in Germany.

Dyson Daniels – Basketball

Only the second Australian to make an NBA All-Defensive First team, Dyson created more history during the 2024-25 season as he led the league with 202 steals at an average of 3.1 per game. Representing the Atlanta Hawks, he became the youngest player in NBA history to record 200+ steals in a single season while his stats compared to the previous season jumped from 5.8 points to 14.1 per game, 1.4 steals to 3.1 per game, 3.9 rebounds to 5.9 per game and 2.7 assists to 4.4 per game. Those achievements helped him earn the NBA Most Improved Player Award as well – another first for an Australian.

Scotty James – Snowboarding

Enhancing his legacy as one of the greatest snowboarders of all time, Scotty started his 2025 season with a silver medal at the World Cup in China before going one better with gold at the Laax Open in Switzerland. His X-Games dominance also continued, capturing gold in the Aspen SuperPipe for a record fourth consecutive year. He then created history at the World Championships in Switzerland, claiming his fourth career world title in snowboard halfpipe – a feat never previously achieved. In doing so, Scotty also became Australia’s first winter sports athlete to win four world championships in any discipline.

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 2025 year.

Finalists

Jemma Holt – Life Saving

In a banner year for Jemma, her recognition included being named Life Saving Victoria’s Youth Athlete of the Year and selected as a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient. Contesting both age-group and open competitions at a national level in 2025, Jemma won 15 medals including nine gold at the Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships before earning Female Lifesaver of the Meet and the Shayne Baker Trophy as the Australian Cup U19 Female Superlifesaver. Jemma was then selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Wales, reaching the podium multiple times across individual and relay events including national women’s and mixed team relays. 

Alessia McCaig – Cycling 

Having been cycling since she was nine years old, Alessia enjoyed the best year of her career to date in 2025. At the national championships, she won gold in the Sprint and Keirin while also earning first place in the Austral Wheelrace sprint, the oldest active track bicycle race. At the Oceania Championships, she won a silver in the sprint and then reached the podium again at the UCI Track World Championships in Santiago, with a bronze in the Team Sprint in addition to fourth place in the Keirin. Those achievements led her to be named AusCycling Female Track Cyclist of the Year for 2025.

Tara Neyland – Para-Cycling

In her first year as a classified para-athlete after being diagnosed in 2023 with a progressive neuromuscular condition that causes muscle weakness and loss, Tara excelled at a National and International level. At the Road National Championships in Perth, she won gold in the Road Race and Individual Time Trial. At the Track National Championships in Brisbane, she won gold in the Scratch Race and 1000m Time Trial, setting a new Australian Record. Debuting internationally at the ParaCycling World Championships in Belgium, she took home two titles in the RR and ITT. She then went on to clinch 3 more World Championships on the track in Rio, in the 1km TT, Scratch and Elimination races, alongside setting a new World Record in the C4 1000m Time Trial.

Alanna Smith – Basketball

Only twice in the near-30 year history of the WNBA has a non-American been named the Defensive Player of the Year; Lauren Jackson in 2007 and Alanna Smith in 2025. Alanna shared the honours with A’ja Wilson after finishing the season second overall in combined steals and blocks (135), third for total blocks and third for blocks per game (1.9). Representing the Minnesota Lynx, Alanna played a crucial role in helping them to finish the regular season on top of the ladder and she capped off the year by being named to the All-Defensive First Team as well.

This award recognises a Victorian junior team who has achieved outstanding results with respect to their performances at a national, international level during the 2025 calendar year.

Finalists

2025 U18 Victoria Country Men – Basketball Victoria

Breaking through for their first U18 National title since 1990, the Victoria Country Men claimed Basketball Australia’s 2025 Under-18 National Championship in emphatic fashion. After dropping their opening game, the team drew on the lessons of a challenging preparation, responding with grit and composure. They surged through the tournament on an eight game winning streak, earning redemption against NSW Metro in the Championship Game and securing gold with an 83–74 victory. The 2025 U18 Victoria Country Men brought to life Rudyard Kipling’s famous line “for the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack”.

Henri and Miles Levenspiel – Sailing

Only 16, Henri and Miles consistently performed at the highest level against the nation’s leading 29er sailors in 2025. They claimed 1st Junior at the Australian 9er National Championships, securing selection to the Australian Sailing Youth Squad and represented Australia at the 29er World Championships in Portugal. They were crowned Victorian 29er State Champions and Victorian Youth Champions, won Sail Melbourne, and finished 2nd at the NSW Youth Championships- a Youth Worlds selection event. Henri and Miles consistently performed at the highest level against the nation’s leading 29er sailors.

Tri-Series Team – Swimming Victoria

Victoria once again delivered at the Tri-Series competition held in Ballarat in 2025, winning the overall championship for the third consecutive year. Defeating Western Australia and two New Zealand teams, Victoria produced record-breaking performances across the meet including eight Tri-Series competition records in the individual and relay events. Felix Dressel-de Bruyn and Lucy Doyle were named the Men’s and Women’s Highest Point Score winners for able-body athletes.

Victorian Pathway U18 Team – Rowing Victoria

Over 100 athletes nominate to represent the Victorian Pathway Team, forming the best Under-18 rowers in the state to compete at the Interstate Regatta. Held in Sydney, the event is the youngest interstate Regatta on the calendar. Victoria’s team consisted of four crews (Boys and Girls Eight and Boys and Girls Coxless Quad) and the 2025 team achieved the best result for the state since the inception of the event in 2016 including gold to the Boys Eight, Girls Eight and Boys Coxless Quad and silver to the Girls Coxless Quad.

https://www.sportsentertainmentnetwork.com.au/

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 2025 calendar year.

Finalists

Aerobic Gymnastics Team – Gymnastics Victoria

Gymnastics Victoria’s eight-member Aerobic Gymnastics team delivered a dominant 2025 season, claiming both the Victorian State Championship and the Australian National Championship titles to establish themselves as the country’s leading team. Their success earned selection to represent Australia at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu China, the first time in 12 years that Australia has been represented in Aerobic Gymnastics at this event. Competing against the world’s best, the team of Lucy Membrey, Maddie Royle, Mia Salomon, Olivia Feaver, Roisin Selvarajoo, Ruby Conti, Sophie King, and Tahnee Bratanavicius achieved an outstanding 6th place finish.

Hockey Club Melbourne Men – Hockey Victoria

Coming into 2025 as defending champions, HC Melbourne finished the regular season in third place before blitzing NSW Pride 9-3 in the Semi-Final and beating Tassie Tigers 3-1 in the final to claim back-to-back Championships. Nathan Ephraums took out the league MVP award and was joined by Liam Henderson and Connar Otterbach in the Team of the Year. Seven players were also selected to the national Kookaburras team and two more were named to play in the Junior World Cup in India. 

Melbourne Vixens – Netball

Proving their mettle when it mattered most, the Vixens finished the regular season in fourth place on the ladder which put them on the road for their first two finals. They got the better of Adelaide in the Semi-Final though and then produced a thrilling come-from-behind victory over NSW Swifts in the Preliminary Final on the back of a 25-14 final quarter. That placed them against West Coast Fever in the Grand Final who had lost just twice for the season and came into the game on a 13-match winning streak. Melbourne prevailed 59-58 though, ending coach Simone McKinnis’ tenure in fairytale fashion. 

North Melbourne Football Club – AFL Women’s

Smashing AFL records, North Melbourne’s AFLW team delivered an historic 2025 season by finishing the home and away season undefeated (12–0) before going on to win the Premiership. This was their second straight title and extended their record winning streak to 27 games, the longest in elite Australian football history across both men's and women's competitions. Leading the league in almost every possible key performance metric, the Kangaroos also produced the league Best and Fairest winner, multiple All-Australians including that team’s captain, the players association’s MVP and best captain award and the coaches association’s MVP.

https://trade.bunnings.com.au/

This award recognises a Local Government Authority who has made a significant contribution to sport in 2025 through the development of a participation program or facility.

Finalists

JL Murphy Reserve Synthetic Pitch – City of Port Phillip

As the City of Port Phillip’s largest council managed sporting precinct, JL Murphy Reserve plays a vital role in supporting community sport and active participation. To meet growing demand, reduce weather related cancellations and increase training capacity, Council transformed one of the reserve’s natural soccer pitches into its first synthetic sports ground. Delivered through a sustainability led design, the project incorporates cork infill, energy efficient LED lighting, improved pedestrian access, and a pitch constructed to FIFA standards. The upgrade has resulted in a high quality, resilient facility that maximises use, broadens access and strengthens the reserve’s role as a major hub for sport and recreation. It has significantly increased capacity, enabling regular training across multiple sports and clubs and supporting community programs delivered by elite sporting organisations.

Ryder Pavilion Redevelopment – City of Melbourne

A collaboration between City of Melbourne, local sporting clubs and community stakeholders, the Ryder Pavilion Redevelopment saw ageing infrastructure replaced with flexible internal layouts easily adapted for different sports, group sizes and event formats as well as the inclusion of six gender-neutral change rooms, accessible bathrooms, umpires’ facilities and enhanced social and food preparation spaces. These additions have helped remove long-standing barriers to participation, particularly for women, girls and gender-diverse community members while clubs can be more confident in scheduling female competitions and mixed-gender programs. Innovative practices include automated, motion-sensitive lighting to improve energy efficiency and a fully digital handover process has set a new benchmark for local government sports infrastructure delivery.

Shepparton BMX Multi Use Events Facility – Greater Shepparton City Council

Following the 2022 Victorian floods and cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Greater Shepparton City Council secured funding for a new two-storey multi-use events pavilion, elevated above flood levels and featuring all-gender amenities, change rooms, canteen, storage, meeting spaces, kitchen, bar and undercover viewing. The broader project included upgraded track surface and start hill improvements which has seen immediate participation growth for BMX with the 2025 National Series recording the largest single day of BMX participation in Australia. The upgrades have also enabled them to host the 2026 BMX National Championships which were predicted to generate $6M for the local economy.

Swim Unity – Maribyrnong City Council

Delivered as a free-eight week program, Maribyrnong City Council’s Swim Unity addressed the need for culturally safe, accessible and inclusive aquatic education for women from diverse backgrounds. It equips participants with essential swimming and water safety skills with a focus on drowning prevention and emergency response while also creating meaningful social impact in a supportive, women-only environment that is co-designed by women from the diverse communities it serves. A broad range of class times was offered for the 150 participants, including times to align with women-only swim nights while the program also provided goggles, swim caps and free pool access outside of lesson times to practice independently.

https://lovethegame.vic.gov.au/

This award recognises the outstanding contribution made in 2025 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

Davey’s Bay Yacht Club – Sailing

In 2025, Davey’s Bay Yacht Club delivered 110 structured Australian Sailing programs including Tiny Tackers, school fleet initiatives and youth racing pathways which ensured there were opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities. Membership grew by 17%, female engagement in those programs was 44% which exceeded the national average for the sport) and sailing opportunities were expanded from three to five days per week. The club also implemented centralised online incident reporting, risk assessments and safety briefings to ensure all participants, from beginners to experienced sailors, felt protected.

Footscray Rugby Union Club – Rugby Union

With a core concept of Aiga (Family), Footscray Rugby Union Club (FRUC) welcome everyone through events such as their annual "Island Night" that recognises their predominantly Pacifika heritage and work with organisations including Drummond Street, The Zone and Les Twentyman assists at-risk youth through sport. One of the fastest growing rugby clubs in Australia, they experienced a 23.4% bump in 2025. FRUC now field teams for men and women through every grade of competition and they won all three minor premierships in the senior competition. To increase safety protocols, the club has partnered with Victoria University Sports Science Faculty to ensure proper training and rehabilitation methods are followed. 

Frankston & District Netball Association – Netball

Tailoring programs for underrepresented groups including local indigenous communities, people with disability and netball for boys and men, Frankston & District Netball Association saw a 16% rise in social evening competitions for women and mixed genders from the previous year, a 5% increase in the total number of teams, walking netball doubled its court activations and overall court usage went up by 8%. Player Liaisons for Under-18 age groups were appointed to ensure young voices play a direct role in program development while all five leadership positions at the Association are held by women, underscoring a commitment to gender equity and empowerment. 

Surf Coast FC – Football

Surf Coast Football (Soccer) Club has more than doubled in size over the past three years thanks to a focus on youth and female engagement, flexible registration payment plans and a close partnership with Surf Coast Shire to ensure their facilities are well-maintained. Through the Club Changer Women and Girls Action Plan, female participation increased by 90% since 2023, 461 MiniRoos players (U11 and younger) were supported while pathways were provided by competing in an Advanced Junior Girls league and Geelong competitions for all levels and state-level men’s leagues. A partnership with coaching education program Coerver ensured consistent development standards which enabled and encouraged coaches to lead 69 teams in 2025. A community engagement focus and new clubrooms created a welcoming culture for 883 registered players, supporters and opposition, making it the sixth largest club in Victoria and the fourth largest for female membership.

https://www.revolutionise.com.au/

This award is open to Victorian sports administrators who have demonstrated an outstanding level of achievement during the 2025 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

Selin Arpaci – Football

As the All-Abilities & Inclusion Programs Coordinator at Football Victoria (FV), Selin led the development and launch of the organisation’s Disability Football Framework in 2025 which embedded disability football into FV’s long-term strategic direction and core operations. Selin established and trained a specialised panel of 30 referees in disability inclusion for the All-Abilities League and partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia to deliver education to over 100 coaches, strengthening statewide capability to provide inclusive football environments. 1,200+ Victorians engaged in All-Abilities football in 2025 while the Football for All Gala Day (the staple Annual All-Abilities event) featured 300 participants and 300 spectators in attendance. 

Nadelle Legge – Triathlon

Transitioning into the role of VIC State Services Manager at Triathlon Australia, Nadelle played a central role in revitalising regional racing by overseeing the successful delivery of the Regional Series. Across Victoria, race starts grew by over 10% in 2025 to position the state as the strongest participation engine while there was a 6% increase in memberships at a time when six states and territories experienced decline. Championing the integration of athletes with intellectual impairment, Nadelle also supported the establishment of several new clubs and transitioned a few non-affiliated triathlon groups into the formal AusTriathlon structure which has strengthened pathways, participation and improved governance. 

Natalie Pafralis – Football and Futsal

Natalie played a leading role in the delivery of the National Futsal Championships (NFC) and Victorian Cup of Nations (VCON) through her position as Program Coordinator - Growth and Development at Football Victoria. The NFC featured 101 teams, 1,500 players and 3,000 daily spectators while the VCON included 22 teams and 460 athletes representing nations across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Playing jerseys were arranged for all teams, subsidised entry was provided for an Afghan women’s team and Natalie utilised personal connections to help bridge language barriers between participants and staff. Embedding herself in community group chats, Natalie was also able to answer on-the-spot questions and provide timely support. 

Ben Seccull – Hockey 

As General Manager - Events & Commercial at Hockey Victoria, Ben oversaw a wide range of projects to ensure his sport is more accessible, enjoyable and rewarding for all Victorians. These included the 2025 Stand Out Cup (46 teams playing in a vibrant LGBTIQ+ celebration event), the Women & Girls Breakfast, Junior Country Championships with 50 teams competing, Senior Country Championships in Bendigo, Junior State Championships with 1200 participants and the Hockey Victoria Awards Night, which welcomed a record 420 attendees. Ben delivered Hockey Club Melbourne’s home matches, which had League high attendance and fantastic fan engagement opportunities for kids. He also delivered the national Hockey One League finals in Victoria, with the top four men’s and women’s teams competing in a two-day finals series.

www.polytan.com.au

The Peter Norman Inclusion Award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to safe, fair and inclusive sport in the 2025 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

Adaptive Surf Life Saving – Life Saving Victoria

In 2025, Life Saving Victoria (LSV) designed and delivered their Adaptive Sport program, embedding inclusion as a core component of Victorian lifesaving sport rather than a separate or optional activity. Rules, equipment and event environments were modified to enable people with disability to participate meaningfully, based on guidance from an internal Adaptive Sport Working Group. Multiple adaptive carnivals and an Adaptive State Championships were rolled out which increased the visibility of inclusive sport across Victoria, encouraged clubs, officials and volunteers to have confidence in supporting diverse participants and broadened the inclusive capacity of the wider lifesaving sport community. 

Alana Baldi – Cricket

Living with a traumatic brain injury and hearing loss, Alana decided to transform her lived experience into a force for change in 2025. A part of Cricket Australia’s Project Inspire, she used her learnings to create the first ever All-Abilities program at Numurkah Youth Club Cricket Club. Enabling 14 people with disabilities to participate in a five-week cricket program, Alana also played a key inspirational role as she returned to coaching. This showed that when coaches with disability are supported, barriers are reduced, participation grows and sport becomes more representative of the community it serves while also proving that integrity is upheld when inclusion practices are embedded, not optional.

Equity and Inclusion in Sport Program – Mildura Rural City Council

Mildura Rural City Council’s (MRCC) Equity and Inclusion in Sport program uses a structured, evidence-based approach to identify barriers and embed inclusion across community sport. In 2025, MRCC worked with 12 organisations, tailoring action plans and delivering targeted education and resources through a dedicated project officer. Success stories included a club introducing two junior girls football teams after identifying unmet demand and a cricket club that, after renewing its inclusion audit, had 100% of female participants say they now felt supported. Beyond working with individual clubs, MRCC strengthened the broader sport sector through the launch of an Equity and Inclusion in Sport webpage, newsletter and running Community of Practice sessions. 

Frankston Softball Association – Softball

Embedding inclusive practices into both its internal operations and community-facing programs, Frankston Softball Association partnered with Doable Australia in 2025 to create meaningful volunteer canteen opportunities for people with disability. Much more than a symbolic role, the association ensured participants were genuinely empowered and supported by running risk assessments, mock practice sessions and introducing an accessible touch-based register system. Their inclusive practices extended beyond the program as participants were invited to club events, listed as Canteen Managers on the club website and embraced by other volunteers, players and committee members. This strengthened community connections as a whole with nearby associations reaching out to learn from the model and explore similar partnerships.