ARV 2024 industry gala awards recognise achievements in Victorian aquatic industry

Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) has celebrated the best of Victoria’s aquatic industry at the 2024 Gala Industry awards event.

Held on Friday 21st June at Centrepiece, Melbourne Park, the 2024 event was the largest awards yet, with a record 927 guests in attendance.

With 254 nominations received, the award program’s 77 judges selected 25 deserving award recipients, showcasing the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in 2023.

The event opened with performance from the Airline Dancers, bringing the ‘Around the World’ theme to life before host Tony Jones - who has supported ARV for 15 years - took to the stage.

Among the awards, Warren Green inducted as a new ARV Life member.

2024 ARV Award Winners 
Customer Service Award
Megan Stevens, Active Monash 

Membership Sales Award
Ronelle Dorkin, Belgravia Leisure 

Duty Manager of the Year Award: 
Winner: Alana Hinkley, Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services
Highly Commended: Courtnery Canning, Springers Leisure Centre - South East Leisure

Most Valuable Employee Award: 
Winner: Alana Taylor, WynActive - Western Leisure Services
Highly Commended: Jessica O'Connell, Dandenong Oasis - South East Leisure 

Pool Lifeguard Award
Kirra McCague, Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre - Aligned Leisure

Swim Teacher - General Award
Shannon Gardner, Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre - Peninsula Leisure

Swim Teacher - Babies, Infants and Preschool Award
Patricia Gussenhoven, Knox Leisureworks - Belgravia Leisure

Swim Teacher - Persons with a Disability Award: 
Winner: Christine Meek, Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre - Hume City Council
Highly Commended: Aaron Richardson, Ivanhoe Swim - Ivanhoe Grammar School 

Swim School Award: 
Winner: Camberwell Grammar School
Highly Commended: Bayfit Leisure Centre - BlueFit

Watch Around Water Award
Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services 

Nutrition and Healthy Choices Award
Monash Sport

Outstanding Contribution to the Aquatic and Recreation Industry Award
Brett Diprose - Warren and Mahoney architects

Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Life Membership
Warren Green 

Emerging Leader Award
Georgia Rock (Gordon), Northern Aquatic & Community Hub - City of Greater Geelong

Innovative Program Award
Lifeguard on Watch, Windy Hill Fitness Centre - BlueFit

Sustainability Award
Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre - Clublinks

Marketing and Communications Award
Yarra Leisure

Group Exercise Instructor Award 
Winner: Wayne Abrahams, Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services
Highly Commended: Julia Jones, Melbourne City Baths - City of Melbourne 

Personal Trainer/Gym Instructor Award 
Winner: Fitim Bekiri, Brimbank Aquatic & Wellness Centre - Brimbank Leisure
Highly Commended: Michelle Millhouse, Mill Park Leisure - Belgravia Leisure 

Health Club Award 
Winner: Brimbank Aquatic & Wellness Centre - Brimbank Leisure 
Highly Commended: Mildura Waves Aquatic and Leisure Centre - Aligned Leisure

Community Impact Award
Activating Vulnerable Communities, Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre - Peninsula Leisure

Facility Management - Seasonal Award
Red Cliffs Swimming Pool - Aligned Leisure 

Facility Management - Small Award
Winner: Phillip Island Leisure Centre - The Y
Highly Commended: Berrydale Swim School 

Facility Management - Medium Award
Wangaratta Sports & Aquatic Centre - City of Wangaratta 

Facility Management - Large Award 
Winner: Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre - Brimbank Leisure
Highly Commended: Mill Park Leisure - Belgravia Leisure 

The event was supported by Platinum Sponsor Perfect Gym along with Gold Sponsors, Roejen Services, Para Mobility and UPR Plumbing.

Images: Alana Hinkley of Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services receives her Duty Manager of the Year Award from Todd McHardy of BlueFit (top) and (below, from left) ARV Chairman Andrew Hocking, Brett Diprose - recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Aquatic and Recreation Industry Award, presented by Tom Beaurepair on behalf of the Beaurepair Family.