Finalists Revealed for the 2025 VDSR Awards

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

• 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 Inc

• Anna Di Pietrantonio, Manningham United Football Club

• Noah Hadden, Bendigo Basketball

• Barwon Branch, Freedom Solutions Australia

Team of the Year

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Riverslide Skate Park - The Y and City of Melbourne

Active Recreation or Leisure Initiative of the Year

• 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

• Assunta Fogliaro, Sport Climbing Australia

Administrator of the Year

• 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: