Honour roll
Celebrating life members and award winners. Their passion for inclusivity and all they have done for the community is remembered here.
On this page
Life members
Life membership is offered as recognition and acknowledgement of an individual’s significant contribution to our organisation or the sector.
Since the ParaVics Sports Club was formed in 1962, there have been a number of individuals whose outstanding leadership, passion, dedication and generosity has shaped our organisation’s transition to Wheelchair Sports Victoria and, in 2010, Disability Sport & Recreation.
Countless athletes with disability, and the wider disability sport and recreation sector, have been transformed through the work of our life members.
We first awarded life membership in 1970. Our first four recipients were Bob Boyles, Wal Gladwyn, Elaine Schrieber and Mike Wilson.
* deceased.
Bob Boyles*
Inducted in 1970
Mike Wilson*
Inducted in 1970
Graeme Walters
Inducted in 1989
Alan W Ward
Inducted in 1994
John Bourke
Inducted in 2006
Michael De Santo
Inducted in 1996
Marg Angel*
Inducted in 2010
Wal Gladwyn*
Inducted in 1970
Herb Sanderson*
Inducted in 1974
Ivan Risojevic*
Inducted in 1983
Geoff Luke*
Inducted in 1994
David Stevens
Inducted in 2004
David King
Inducted in 2008
Elaine Schrieber*
Inducted in 1970
Bryan Tudor*
Inducted in 1974
Linda Coombs
Inducted in 1994
Allan Robertson*
Inducted in 1994
Sandy Blythe*
Inducted in 2006
Eva Zselenyi
Inducted in 1994
Michael McFawn*
Inducted in 2007
Previous
VDSR Award recipients
The Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Awards recognises and celebrates the achievements of people with disability. It also honours people who support and strive to make sport and recreation inclusive for all.
2025
Administrator of the Year Sponsored by My Sport Live
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Selin-Deniz Arpaci - Football Victoria
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Therese Dogra - Freedom Solutions Australia
Volunteer of the Year Sponsored by etrainu
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Veronica Treloar - Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club
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Highly Commended: Brooke Carter - Victorian Goalball Association
Team of the Year Sponsored by Inspire Group
Melbourne City Powerchair Team - Melbourne City Football Club
Coach/Fitness Leader of the Year Sponsored byThe Owl Insights
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Tan Ke (Tom) Xie - Special Olympics, Melbourne Inner East
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Tara Lake - Balwyn Gymnastics Club and Special Olympics, Melbourne Inner East
Sport Initiative of the Year Sponsored by Reclink Australia
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Aqua Fit Program - Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria and Hume Leisure, Broadmeadows Aquatic & Leisure Centre.
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Highly Commended: The Tackle Free Carnivals - Football Integration Development Association
Active Recreation and Leisure Initiative of the Year Sponsored by Clublinks
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Walking and Rolling Together: Accessible Walking Paths for People with Disability - Victoria Walks
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Highly Commended: The Victorian Safer Swimmer Certificate (VSSC) – Life Saving Victoria
Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Sponsored by VicHealth
The All Abilities Skate Frame, Riverslide Skate Park - The Y, Als Skate Co and City of Melbourne
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by Protect
Bonnie McCarroll - Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club
Masters Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by Carbine Club
Assunta Fogliaro - Sport Climbing Australia
Community Team Member of the Year Sponsored by VicHealth
Katherine (Katie) Kaminsky - Adaptive Climbing Victoria
Elite Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by In Place Living
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India Biesse Fitton - Special Olympics Australia, Multiclass Sports Association and Sports Inclusion Australia
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Dan Pritchard - Victorian Goalball Association
Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award
Jane Baker - Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria (Moorabbin)
2024
Volunteer of the Year Sponsored by etrainu
Madeline Seiter - Achilles Melbourne Incorporated
Team of the Year Sponsored by Inspire Group
Triathlon Team - Inclusive Sports Training
Coach/Fitness Leader of the Year Sponsored by My Sport Live
Manuela (Manny) Dalla Costa - Special Olympics Melbourne Inner East
Sport Initiative of the Year Sponsored by Reclink Australia
Blind And Low Vision Basketball - Frankston and District Basketball Association
Active Recreation and Leisure Initiative of the Year Sponsored by Clublinks
Achilles Hike - Achilles Melbourne Incorporated
Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Sponsored by Polytan
Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre - Clublinks
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by Carbine Club
Chloe Gee - Tenpin Bowling Victoria
Masters Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by The Owl Insights
Ned Brewer-Maiga - Cricket Victoria
Community Team Member of the Year Sponsored by The Y Australia
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Omar Coles - Helping Hoops
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Madeline Seiter - Achilles Melbourne Incorporated
Elite Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by In Place Living
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Alana Forster - AusCycling
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Sarah Larcombe - Sport Climbing Australia / Adaptive Climbing Victoria
Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award
Elle Steele, PLY
2023
Sport and Recreation Victoria Volunteer of the Year Anne Cherny
Love the Game Team of the Year
Team Vic, Special Olympics
My Sport Live Coach/Fitness Leader of the Year
Sally Francis OAM
WorkSafe Victoria Administrator of the Year
Shane Bicknell
Sport and Recreation Victoria Sport Initiative of the Year
AFL Barwon Inclusion League
Clublinks Active Recreation and Leisure Initiative of the Year
emotion21, Inclusion Foundation
Polytan Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure
Camp Manyung, YMCA
Carbine Club Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Jack Howell
My Sport Live Masters Sportsperson of the Year
Ross Patterson
Active Melbourne Community Sportsperson of the Year Chris Henderson
Polytan Elite Sportsperson of the Year
Sarah Larcombe
Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award
Danni Di Toro, Julie Cass and Aileen Marshall
2022
My Sport Live Sportsperson of the Year
Adam Fayad – Tennis
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Liam Costello – Athletics
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
Adam Fayad – Tennis
Carbine Club Coach of the Year
Alois Rosario – Para Table Tennis
Administrator of the Year
Steve Odgers – AFL Victoria
PwC Volunteer of the Year
Doug Sloan – Blind Golf Victoria, Blind Golf Australia and Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria
VicHealth Best Disability Sport & Recreation Initiative
Sport4All – Get Skilled Access
Poytan Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award
Dementia Friendly Forest & Sensory Trail – Parks Victoria, Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance (Ballarat) and Dementia Australia
Team of the Year
Table Tennis Victoria – Team Vic Para Squad
Active Recreation and Leisure Initiative of the Year
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Zooming in on a vision for health and well-being – Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria
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Inclusive aquatics and recreation: a guide to increasing participation by underrepresented communities – Belgravia Leisure, Belgravia Foundation and Aquatics & Recreation Victoria
Elite Sportsperson of the Year
Heath Davidson – Wheelchair Tennis
Community Sportsperson of the Year
Robert Fletcher – Blind
Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award
Dylan Alcott OAM
2021
Everyday Independence Lifetime Achievement Award
• Kaye Speed OAM - Blind Sport and Recreation Victoria
My Sport Live Sportsperson of the Year
• Ben Fawcett - wheelchair rugby
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
• Kirra Wright - athletics
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
• Jason Lees - wheelchair rugby
Administrator of the Year
• Tim Marchington - SOLVE Disability Solutions
Carbine Club Coach of the Year
• Ian Bridge - Para-Badminton
PwC Volunteer of the Year
• Samir Mahir - Blind Sport and Recreation Victoria
VicHealth Initiative of the Year - Sport
• Creating a Positive Experience for Athletes with Autism in Gymnastics workshop - Gymnastics Victoria
VicHealth Initiative of the Year - Active Recreation
• All Abilities Physical Activity Challenge - GippSport
Polytan Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure
• SOLVE Disability Solutions – building development
2020
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Timothy Chiu – DSR Kids recreational camps
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Phoebe Mitchell – swimming
My Sport Live Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Clint Pickin – para triathlon
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Georgia Powning – athletics
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Duke Trench-Thiedeman – para badminton
Carbine Club Team of the Year
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Geelong Swimming Club
Coach of the Year
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Sadat-Jon Hussain – swimming
Official of the Year
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Tony Warland – tennis
PwC Volunteer of the Year
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Caytlyn Sharp – athletics
Initiative of the Year
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Access Key Project (Access Ability Australia)
Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award
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Casey Stadium (City of Casey and YMCA Victoria)
2019
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Mel and Terry McMahon – Special Olympics tenpin bowling
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Tamika Simpson – gymnastics
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Hannah Macdougall – cycling
My Sport Live Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Ben Roche – football (soccer)
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Mitchell Bond – wheelchair basketball
WorkSafe Victoria Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Mick Fawkner – seated thrower
Carbine Club Team of the Year
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Australian Half Marathon Team, World INAS Games
Coach of the Year
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Vicky Lee – tennis
Official of the Year
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Jenny Forssman – gymnastics
PwC Volunteer of the Year
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Melissa Hale – Deaf cricket
VicHealth Initiative of the Year
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Access All Terrain Program (YMCA Victoria, DHHS and Parks Victoria)
Polytan Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award
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Lilydale to Warburton rail trail chicanes (Yarra Ranges Council)
2020
Lifetime Achievement Award
Timothy Chiu – DSR Kids recreational camps
Female Sportsperson of the Year
Phoebe Mitchell – swimming
My Sport Live Male Sportsperson of the Year
Clint Pickin – para triathlon
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Georgia Powning – athletics
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
Duke Trench-Thiedeman – para badminton
Carbine Club Team of the Year
Geelong Swimming Club
Coach of the Year
Sadat-Jon Hussain – swimming
Official of the Year
Tony Warland – tennis
PwC Volunteer of the Year
Caytlyn Sharp – athletics
Initiative of the Year
Access Key Project (Access Ability Australia)
Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award
Casey Stadium (City of Casey and YMCA Victoria)
2018
DeakinTALENT Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Melissa Tapper – table tennis, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist
My Sport Live Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Nathan Pellissier – table tennis, 2017 Australian Singles Champion
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Caytlyn Sharp – athletics, 2017 INAS Athletics Championships gold medallist
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Maria Strong – seated thrower: shot put, discus, javelin, 2018 Australian Athletics Championships gold medallist
Carbine Club Team of the Year
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Casey Gymnastics Special O Athletes – gymnastics, members of the Victorian team at the 2018 Special Olympics National Competition
Coach of the Year
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Elizabeth Gosper – athletics, Inclusive Sports Training and Ashwood School
Official of the Year
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Phillip Goodman – wheelchair tennis, national and international referee
Volunteer of the Year
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Alana Baldi – Special Olympics, cricket and football
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Greg Crump – Tennis Australia wheelchair tennis coach
VicHealth Initiative of the Year
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Southern Masters Cycling Club – All Abilities Cycling program for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities
Polytan Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award
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City of Melbourne – North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Multi-Use Sports Court
2019
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mel and Terry McMahon – Special Olympics tenpin bowling
Tamika Simpson – gymnastics
Female Sportsperson of the Year
Hannah Macdougall – cycling
My Sport Live Male Sportsperson of the Year
Ben Roche – football (soccer)
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Mitchell Bond – wheelchair basketball
WorkSafe Victoria Masters Sportsperson of the Year
Mick Fawkner – seated thrower
Carbine Club Team of the Year
Australian Half Marathon Team, World INAS Games
Coach of the Year
Vicky Lee – tennis
Official of the Year
Jenny Forssman – gymnastics
PwC Volunteer of the Year
Melissa Hale – Deaf cricket
VicHealth Initiative of the Year
Access All Terrain Program (YMCA Victoria, DHHS and Parks Victoria)
Polytan Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award
Lilydale to Warburton rail trail chicanes (Yarra Ranges Council)
2017
Deakin University Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Isis Holt
Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Mitchell Gourley
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Jaryd Clifford
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Carol Cooke
Team of the Year
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Victorian Vikings (cricket)
Coach of the Year
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Alexia Keats
Official of the Year
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Liam Costello
Volunteer of the Year
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Alana Baldi
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Maurice Gleeson
Initiative of the Year
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All Abilities Sport Ballarat
Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award
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City of Hume / Touched by Olivia Foundation: Livvi’s Place, Craigieburn ANZAC Park –
2016
Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Dylan Alcott
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Carol Cooke
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Brenton Ponza
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Carol Cooke
Team of the Year
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Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson – tennis doubles
Coach of the Year
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Alex Hirschauer
Official of the Year
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Liam Costello
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Jeff Walkley
Volunteer of the Year
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Amanda Kwong
Initiative of the Year
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Achilles Melbourne
Inclusive Infrastructure Award Over $500,000
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AquaPulse – City of Wyndham
Inclusive Infrastructure Award Under $500,000
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YMCA Camp Manyung
Most Outstanding Media Coverage
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Ivan Dodin – ABC News
2015
Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Dylan Alcott
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Cassy Geffke
Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Brittney Neill
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Nazim Erdem
Team of the Year
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Kilsyth Cobras
Coach of the Year
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Graeme Byrne
Official of the Year
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Liam Costello
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Darren Pickering
Volunteer of the Year
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Moira Ryde
Initiative of the Year
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Gymnastics Victoria AeroBase
Inclusive Infrastructure Award
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Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC)
Most Outstanding Media Coverage
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Sarah Farnsworth – ABC News
2014
Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Toby Kane
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Jessica Gallager
Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Keiran Johnson Vickers
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Gary Connor
Team of the Year
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Jetz Balloon Football Team
Coach of the Year
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George Tsangas
Official of the Year
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Liam Costello
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Hans Boers
Volunteer of the Year
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David Staley
Initiative of the Year
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Gymnastics Victoria Inclusive Club Guideline
Most Outstanding Media Coverage
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Ben Robson – The Border Mail
2013
Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Patrick Francis
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Carol Cooke
Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Matthew Haanappel
Team of the Year
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Victorian Metro Ivor Burge Women’s Basketball Team
Coach of the Year
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Greg Crump
Volunteer of the Year
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Debbie Pataki
Initiative of the Year
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Melbourne University Physiotherapy Students Australian Physiotherapy Webinar
Most Outstanding Media Coverage
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Lucie van den Berg, Herald Sun
2012
Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Nazim Erdem
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Ellie Cole
Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Hayden McGuigan
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Gary Connor
Team of the Year
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Victorian All Abilities Netball Squad
Coach of the Year
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Randall Joseph
Volunteer of the Year
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Kerrie Brindell
Initiative of the Year
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Swimming Victoria Talent Identification Program
Most Outstanding Media Coverage
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Sue Wallace, The Border Mail
2011
Male Sportsperson of the Year
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Ben Roche
Female Sportsperson of the Year
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Amanda Carter
Junior Sportsperson of the Year
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Sarah Lazzaro
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
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Jason Maroney
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David Burman
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Amanda Carter
Team of the Year
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Coburg Tigers FIDA Football Team
Coach of the Year
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Jodi Pixton
Official of the Year
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Caitlin Lamont
Volunteer of the Year
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Ron Smith
Best Disability Sport and Recreation Initiative (joint award)
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Gymnastics Victoria, Cricket Victoria and Scope