Aquatic and Recreation Institute announces its 2021 award winners

The Aquatic and Recreation Institute (NSW) has presented its 2021 awards in a virtual ceremony -  with the City of Sydney’s Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre named as the recipient of the AH Pierce Memorial Facility of the Year Award.

With the ARI Awards traditionally hosted as part of the ARI annual conference, with the conference unable to be held over the last the years due to the uncertainty of COVID, ARI felt it was important to celebrate the successes of the industry virtually.

Presented in a virtual awards ceremony last month, led by Paralympic Gold Medallist Matt Haanappel OAM, the Awards again recognised industry excellence - being presented awards in six traditional award categories and seven new award categories.

Award winners were:

AH Pierce Memorial Facility of the Year Award
Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre/City of Sydney Council.

Award of Excellence
Elizabeth Le Breton, Blue Mountains City Council.

Supplier of the Year Award
Little Toggs.

Environmental Sustainability Award
Forbes Olympic Pool, LSA Group.

Customer Service Team Award
Whitlam Leisure Centre - Belgravia Leisure.

Swim School Award
BlueFit Swimming, Moss Vale War Memorial Aquatic Centre.

Access Inclusion Award
Blacktown Tennis Centre Stanhope, Blacktown City Council.

Children's Program Award
Swim Experts, The Aquatic Educators.

Adam Lloyd Memorial Spirit Award
John Davie, Orimatech.

Emerging Leader Award
Molly Shannon, Gungahlin Leisure Centre, The Y NSW.

Duty Manager Award
Joseph Clarence, Lake Macquarie City Council.

Lifeguard Award
Christian Ryan, Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre, West HQ.

ARI Fellowship
Adam Lloyd (received in February 2021).

In a statement the ARI advised “we would like to congratulate all our winners and pay tribute and thanks to all the nominations received.”

ARI Chairperson Matthew Griffiths is currently making the rounds to see the winners and present them with their award winning trophy.

Sponsors for the awards included International Quadratics, Para Mobility, ProMinent, AUSTSWIM, Orimatech, Roejen Engineering and Technical Services, Little Toggs, BlueFit and Royal Life Saving NSW, ACT and TAS.

With the aquatic and recreation industry returning to a state of new normality, ARI has announced the reactivation of its annual conference to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley from 29th to 31st May 2022. 

The Conference’s format will be different to that of past years while the 2022 ARI Awards will be celebrated separately later in the year.

Click here for more information on the ARI 2022 Conference via the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.  

Images (from left): Matthew Griffiths ARI Chairperson, Collette Holland and Rosie Keogh from City of Sydney Council and David Lloyd from International Quadratics, pictured at the Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre.