top of page
Tamika Simpson DSR Awards by Donna Killeen

Honour roll

Celebrating life members and award winners. Their passion for inclusivity and all they have done for the community is remembered here.

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.

Life members
Blue ribbon with stars

Bob Boyles*

Inducted in 1970

Blue ribbon with stars

Mike Wilson*

Inducted in 1970

211006_Graeme-Walters_1.jpeg

Graeme Walters

Inducted in 1989

211006_Alan-W-Ward_1.jpeg

Alan W Ward

Inducted in 1994

Blue ribbon with stars

John Bourke

Inducted in 2006

Blue ribbon with stars

Michael De Santo

Inducted in 1996

Blue ribbon with stars

Marg Angel*

Inducted in 2010

Blue ribbon with stars

Wal Gladwyn*

Inducted in 1970

Blue ribbon with stars

Herb Sanderson*

Inducted in 1974

Blue ribbon with stars

Ivan Risojevic*

Inducted in 1983

Blue ribbon with stars

Geoff Luke*

Inducted in 1994

Blue ribbon with stars

David Stevens

Inducted in 2004

Blue ribbon with stars

David King

Inducted in 2008

Blue ribbon with stars

Elaine Schrieber*

Inducted in 1970

211006_Bryan-Tudor_1.jpeg

Bryan Tudor*

Inducted in 1974

Blue ribbon with stars

Linda Coombs

Inducted in 1994

Blue ribbon with stars

Allan Robertson*

Inducted in 1994

Blue ribbon with stars

Sandy Blythe*

Inducted in 2006

Blue ribbon with stars

Eva Zselenyi

Inducted in 1994

Blue ribbon with stars

Michael McFawn* 

Inducted in 2007

Previous award recipients

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.

​

489565595_1191409229661224_7043474625190494951_n.jpg

2025

Volunteer of the Year Sponsored by etrainu

​

 

Team of the Year Sponsored by Inspire Group

​

​​​​

Coach/Fitness Leader of the Year Sponsored by My Sport Live

​

​

Sport Initiative of the Year Sponsored by Reclink Australia

​

​​​​​

Active Recreation and Leisure Initiative of the Year Sponsored by Clublinks

​

​

 Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Sponsored by Polytan

​

​

Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by Carbine Club
 

​​

Masters Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by The Owl Insights

​

​​

Community Team Member  of the Year Sponsored by The Y Australia

​​

​

Elite Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by In Place Living

​​

​

Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award 
 

2021
2020

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

  • Omar Coles - Helping Hoops

  • Madeline Seiter - Achilles Melbourne Incorporated​​

​

Elite Sportsperson of the Year Sponsored by In Place Living

  • Alana Forster - AusCycling

  • Sarah Larcombe - Sport Climbing Australia / Adaptive Climbing Victoria​​​

​

Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award 
Elle Steele, PLY

493021705_1210235977778549_5634567169325638798_n.jpg
489565595_1191409229661224_7043474625190494951_n.jpg

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

2021
2020

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

  • Zooming in on a vision for health and well-being – Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria

  • 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

​

2022 Awards.jpg
_0003928.jpg

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

2021
2020

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)

2020-AWARDS.png
2019
Tamika-Simpson---portrait.png

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)

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)

Glenn Sadat and Phoebe 2.jpg

2018

DeakinTALENT Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Melissa Tapper – table tennis, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist

​

My Sport Live Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Nathan Pellissier – table tennis, 2017 Australian Singles Champion

​

Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year

  • Caytlyn Sharp – athletics, 2017 INAS Athletics Championships gold medallist

​

Masters Sportsperson of the Year

  • Maria Strong – seated thrower: shot put, discus, javelin, 2018 Australian Athletics Championships gold medallist

​​

Carbine Club Team of the Year

  • Casey Gymnastics Special O Athletes – gymnastics, members of the Victorian team at the 2018 Special Olympics National Competition

​

Coach of the Year

  • Elizabeth Gosper – athletics, Inclusive Sports Training and Ashwood School

​

Official of the Year

  • Phillip Goodman – wheelchair tennis, national and international referee

​

Volunteer of the Year

  • Alana Baldi – Special Olympics, cricket and football

​

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Greg Crump – Tennis Australia wheelchair tennis coach

​

VicHealth Initiative of the Year

  • Southern Masters Cycling Club – All Abilities Cycling program for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities

​

Polytan Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award

  • City of Melbourne – North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Multi-Use Sports Court

DSR-Awards-2018-9427.jpg
2018
DSR-awards_by_Donna_Killeen_8106241.jpg

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)

Maurice Gleeson - winner Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 (2).jpg

2017

Deakin University Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Isis Holt

​

Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Mitchell Gourley

​

Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year

  • Jaryd Clifford

​

Masters Sportsperson of the Year

  • Carol Cooke

​

Team of the Year

  • Victorian Vikings (cricket)

​

Coach of the Year

  • Alexia Keats

​

Official of the Year

  • Liam Costello

​

Volunteer of the Year

  • Alana Baldi

​

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Maurice Gleeson

​

Initiative of the Year

  • All Abilities Sport Ballarat

​

Inclusive Sport, Recreation or Open Space Infrastructure Award

  • City of Hume / Touched by Olivia Foundation: Livvi’s Place, Craigieburn ANZAC Park –

2017

2016

Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Dylan Alcott


Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Carol Cooke


Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year

  • Brenton Ponza


Masters Sportsperson of the Year

  • Carol Cooke


Team of the Year

  • Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson – tennis doubles


Coach of the Year

  • Alex Hirschauer


Official of the Year

  • Liam Costello


Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Jeff Walkley


Volunteer of the Year

  • Amanda Kwong


Initiative of the Year

  • Achilles Melbourne


Inclusive Infrastructure Award Over $500,000

  • AquaPulse – City of Wyndham


Inclusive Infrastructure Award Under $500,000

  • YMCA Camp Manyung


Most Outstanding Media Coverage

  • Ivan Dodin – ABC News

_30A7178.jpg
2016
Awards Breakfast_Julia-94.jpg

2015

Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Dylan Alcott


Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Cassy Geffke


Junior Sportsperson of the Year

  • Brittney Neill


Masters Sportsperson of the Year

  • Nazim Erdem


Team of the Year

  • Kilsyth Cobras


Coach of the Year

  • Graeme Byrne


Official of the Year

  • Liam Costello


Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Darren Pickering


Volunteer of the Year

  • Moira Ryde


Initiative of the Year

  • Gymnastics Victoria AeroBase


Inclusive Infrastructure Award

  • Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC)


Most Outstanding Media Coverage

  • Sarah Farnsworth – ABC News

2015

2014

Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Toby Kane


Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Jessica Gallager 


Junior Sportsperson of the Year

  • Keiran Johnson Vickers


Masters Sportsperson of the Year

  • Gary Connor


Team of the Year

  • Jetz Balloon Football Team 


Coach of the Year

  • George Tsangas


Official of the Year

  • Liam Costello


Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Hans Boers


Volunteer of the Year

  • David Staley 


Initiative of the Year

  • Gymnastics Victoria Inclusive Club Guideline


Most Outstanding Media Coverage

  • Ben Robson – The Border Mail

2013

Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Patrick Francis


Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Carol Cooke


Junior Sportsperson of the Year


  • Matthew Haanappel

 

Team of the Year

  • Victorian Metro Ivor Burge Women’s Basketball Team

 

Coach of the Year

  • Greg Crump

 

Volunteer of the Year

  • Debbie Pataki


 Initiative of the Year

  • Melbourne University Physiotherapy Students Australian Physiotherapy Webinar


Most Outstanding Media Coverage

  • Lucie van den Berg, Herald Sun

2012

 Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Nazim Erdem


Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Ellie Cole


Junior Sportsperson of the Year

  • Hayden McGuigan


Masters Sportsperson of the Year

  • Gary Connor


Team of the Year

  • Victorian All Abilities Netball Squad


Coach of the Year

  • Randall Joseph


Volunteer of the Year

  • Kerrie Brindell


 Initiative of the Year

  • Swimming Victoria Talent Identification Program


Most Outstanding Media Coverage

  • Sue Wallace, The Border Mail

2011

Male Sportsperson of the Year

  • Ben Roche

 

Female Sportsperson of the Year

  • Amanda Carter


Junior Sportsperson of the Year

  • Sarah Lazzaro


Masters Sportsperson of the Year

  • Jason Maroney

  • David Burman

  • Amanda Carter


Team of the Year

  • Coburg Tigers FIDA Football Team


Coach of the Year

  • Jodi Pixton


Official of the Year

  • Caitlin Lamont


Volunteer of the Year

  • Ron Smith


Best Disability Sport and Recreation Initiative (joint award)

  • Gymnastics Victoria, Cricket Victoria and Scope

2014
2013
2012
2011
Australian Aboriginal Flag
Torres Strait Islander Flag
Rainbow Flag for People of Colour
Transgender Pride Flag
Nonbinary Pride Flag

DSR welcomes everyone.

Disability Sport & Recreation acknowledges the Wurrundjeri and Bunurong people of the Kulin Nations as the traditional custodians of the land on which the we live, work and play. We recognise their continued connection to land, sea and community. We acknowledge sovereignty was never ceded and pay our respect to all Elders, past and present.

ABN: 90 355 468 664

Victorian Fundraising Permit 10566.15

Address

Phone

Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Land,  Naarm

102 / 341 George St, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065

Hours

Monday - Friday

9 am - 5 pm

© 2025  by Disability Sport & Recreation. 

bottom of page