Finalists Revealed for the 2025 VDSR Awards
- Jul 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 11, 2025
Disability Sport and Recreation is proud to reveal the finalists for the 2025 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation (VDSR) Awards.
The VDSR Awards celebrate and acknowledge our talented athletes, dedicated volunteers, exceptional coaches, impactful teams and empowering programs and initiatives that are driving disability sport and recreation forward across Victoria.
“We are proud to host this year’s awards ceremony at the iconic MCG and look forward to celebrating the remarkable individuals and organisations driving inclusive sport and recreation forward across Victoria,” said Liz Tesone, CEO of Disability Sport and Recreation.
This year saw a record number of finalists in our initiative categories, highlighting the remarkable growth and success of inclusive sport and recreation across Victoria. The winners of each category will be announced live at the award ceremony, including the prestigious Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award.
Award Ceremony details:
Date: Tuesday 26 August, 2025
Time: 5.00pm - 9:30pm
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground - Dillbabiik Room
Brunton Ave, Richmond VIC 3002, Australia
For event details and to purchase your tickets, please visit: https://bit.ly/2025VDSRTICKETS
Disability Sport & Recreation is honoured to announce the 2025 VDSR Awards finalists:
Volunteer of the Year sponsored by etrainu
Anna Di Pietrantonio - All Abilities Program, Manningham United Football Club
Stephen Lefebvre, Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association (MAACA)
Ian Hampton, Special Olympics Australia, Melbourne Eastern Ranges
Willeke Walsh, Wheelchair Rugby Victoria/Disability Sport & Recreation
Lyn Link, Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria
Veronica Treloar, Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club
Brooke Carter, Victorian Goalball Association
Noah Hadden, Bendigo Basketball
Barwon Branch, Freedom Solutions Australia
Team of the Year sponsored by Inspire Group
Victorian Mens Ivor Burge Basketball Team, Basketball Victoria
Melbourne City Powerchair Team, Melbourne City FC
Team Victoria, Victorian Goalball Association Inc
Elite Sportsperson of the Year
India Biesse Fitton, Special Olympics Australia/Multiclass Sports Association/Sports Inclusion Australia
Stella Barton, Equestrian Australia
Brittnee Watson, Victorian Goalball Association Inc
Dan Pritchard, Victorian Goalball Association Inc
Justin Williams, Special Olympics Australia Melbourne Eastern Ranges
Ben Beare, The Australian Book of Records
Community Team Member of the Year sponsored by The Owl Insights
Samantha Troman, AquaAccess4All
Katherine (Katie) Kaminsky, Adaptive Climbing Victoria
Alana Baldi , My Ability Sports Media
Ben Van Raay & (Daz Smith), RadioVoice
Leanne Deltoso, Play On | Basketball Victoria
Shelly Matherson, Play On | Basketball Victoria
Sport Initiative or Event of the Year sponsored by Reclink Australia
Werribee All Abilities Basketball Club, Wyndham Basketball Association
Play On - Women & Girls Wheelchair Basketball Development Program
A025 All Abilities Day, Tennis Australia
Specialist Hoops Victoria
Geelong All-Abilities Sports Club (STARS)
The Australian All Abilities Championship, Golf Australia
Wheelchair Rugby League Victoria, NRL Victoria
The Toorak Prahran Cricket Club (TPCC), All Abilities Program
The Football for All Gala Day, Football Victoria
Adaptive Sport in Lifesaving Carnivals, Life Saving Victoria
Let’s Get Wheelistic program - Freedom Sports Foundation
Swordfish Program, Geelong Aquatic
Inclusion Tournament, Frankston and District Basketball Association
The Melbourne Victory All Abilities, Melbourne Victory FC
The Tackle Free Carnivals, Football Integration Development Association (FIDA)
Special Olympics Move, Play and Connect Community Day, Special Olympics Melbourne Inner East (MIE) Club
Aqua Fit Program, Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria (BSRV) and Hume Leisure - Broadmeadows Aquatic & Leisure Centre.
Inclusive Sport/Recreation/Open Space Infrastructure Award sponsored by VicHealth
Riverslide Skate Park - The Y and City of Melbourne
Active Recreation or Leisure Initiative of the Year sponsored by Clublinks
Walking and Rolling Together: Accessible Walking Paths for People with Disability, Victoria Walks
CaliStars, Aspire Calisthenics competition/NarreWarren Calisthenics Competitions/Calisthenics Victoria
Boroondara Disability Sport and Recreation Hub, The Y Victoria
The Victorian Safer Swimmer Certificate (VSSC), Life Saving Victoria
FitSkills21, Down Syndrome Victoria
The Multiclass Snowsports Program, Multiclass Sports Association
Play On, Women & Girls Wheelchair Basketball Development Program
Community and School All Abilities Sport Wheelchair Program, Freedom Sports Foundation
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
April Benfield, MYC Gymnastics
Bonnie McCarroll, Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club
Masters Sportsperson of the Year sponsored by MySport Live
Assunta Fogliaro, Sport Climbing Australia
Administrator of the Year sponsored by Carbine Club
Selin-Deniz Arpaci, Football Victoria
Therese Dogra, Freedom Solutions Australia
Coach or Fitness Leader of the Year
Tan Ke (Tom) Xie, Special Olympics Melbourne Inner East Club
Ryan Holloway, Basketball Australia
Peter Conroy, Cooinda Terang - Funakoshi Karate International Australia Camperdown Dojo
Michael Migliaccio, Special Olympics Australia Melbourne Eastern Ranges
Tara Lake, Balwyn Gymnastics Club (Boroondara Sports Complex YMCA)/Melbourne Inner East Special Olympics Club
We look forward to celebrating the remarkable achievements of all finalists and hope you can join us!
For more information on the 2025 VDSR Award categories, please click here.
2024 VDSR Awards:
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