Vicsport announces 2023 Victorian Sport Awards winners

The 2023 Victorian Sport Awards have this week been presented to winners across 18 categories.

Presented by the Victorian Government and Vicsport on Wednesday evening at Marvel Stadium, the awards resulted from nominations by state sporting associations as well as teammates, club members, friends, family and the recipient’s local community, judged by a panel of 37 highly qualified Victorian sports people.

These judges included four-time Olympian Steve Moneghetti, Head of Female Cricket at Cricket Victoria Sharelle McMahon, AusCycling’s Kate Palmer as well as chief executivesfrom the Victorian Institute of Sport (Anne Marie Harrison), Tennis Victoria (Tamatha Harding), Softball Australia (Sarah Loh), Netball Victoria (Andrea Pearman), Bowls Victoria (Tony Sherwill) and Table Tennis Victoria (Andrew Weiss).

Commenting on the program, Vicsport Chair, Ritchie Hinton stated “the Victorian Sport Awards is such a special night because it allows us to recognise our grassroots heroes alongside those who have excelled at an elite level.

“This year was another great celebration of the best that our state sporting and active recreation industry has to offer and my congratulations to everyone who was honoured.”

The most prestigious honour bestowed on the night, the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award was presented to Dr Peter Brukner OAM.

Acknowledging this, Hinton added “it was also a privilege to acknowledge the achievements of Dr Peter Brukner whose outstanding service to sport over 50 years, from community level to the Olympics, has made a significant contribution to the development of safe sport and leading medical care in Australia.”

Winners of the 2023 Victorian Sport Awards are as follows:

Leasexpress Coach of the Year
Peter McNeil - skiing

Gallagher Community Coach of the Year
Tina Keown - tennis

Sports Accounting Australia Official of the Year
Clare Taylor - short track speed skating

etrainu Community Official of the Year
Russell Turner - cricket

AFL SportsReady Young Team of the Year
Katie Jackson and Lucy Richardson - rowing

AED Authority Team of the Year
Victorian State Women’s Side - lawn bowls

My Sport Live Community Sporting Event of the Year
Annual Primary Schools Twilight Tournament - Sale United Football Club

Love the Game Community Sporting Club of the Year
Burwood Cricket Club 

revolutioniseSPORT Victorian Sports Administrator of the Year - Eunice Gill Award
Jennifer McIntyre - Calisthenics Victoria

Bunnings Trade Local Government Initiative of the Year
The Home of Table Tennis - Latrobe City Council

VAILO Volunteer of the Year
Hayden Eastwood - tennis

VicHealth Active Recreation Initiative of the Year
Positive Starts - Wyndham Netball Association

Involve Masters Athlete of the Year
Nadene Gole - golf

rebel Young Athlete of the Year
Cameron Gatt - BMX

Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport Award
Bowls Victoria - lawn bowls

Polytan Peter Norman Inclusion Award
First Nations Calisthenics Club - calisthenics

Frank Wilkes Award
Scotty James - snowboarding

Kitty McEwan Award
Jakara Anthony - mogul skiing

Victorian State Government Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport
Dr Peter Brukner OAM

Image: Mogul Skier Jakara Anthony. Credit: Snow Australia.