Victorian Sport recognises its finest

The Victorian Sports Awards have once again acknowledged and celebrated the achievements of the state’s home-grown sporting heroes and legends with winners announced earlier this month at an event held in the Victory Room at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

Nominated by state sporting associations as well as teammates, club members, friends, family and recipients’ local communities, entries were judged by a panel of 37 highly qualified Victorian sports people including Olympians, world-renowned athletes and state sporting association executives  who were charged with selecting the finalists and the 19 award winners in nominated categories along with the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award.

Judges included four-time Olympic marathoner Steve Moneghetti, Head of Female Cricket at Cricket Victoria Sharelle McMahon as well as chief executives from the Victorian Institute of Sport (Anne Marie Harrison), Netball Victoria (Andrea Pearman), Bowls Victoria (Tony Sherwill) and Disability Sport and Recreation Victoria (Liz Tesone).

The most prestigious honour bestowed on the night is the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award, presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, sport in Victoria.

This year’s recipient was Neale Daniher.

Advising of his pleasure at seeing home-grown heroes receiving recognition, Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence stated “from football legend and tireless FightMND campaigner Neale Daniher to community teams, volunteers and coaches leading the way at the grassroots level

“Congratulations to all our winners and finalists. You’ve done us proud.”

Each year, the Victorian Sport Awards honours the athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in Victoria as well as the initiatives that promoted sport and active recreation participation.

Winners in the 20 total categories of the 2022 Victorian Sport Awards are as follows:

Coach of the Year
Angela McMillan - Aerobic Gymnastics

Community Coach of the Year
Presley Naea - Rugby Union

Official of the Year
John Roberts - Lawn Bowls

Community Official of the Year
Kylie Clark - Life Saving

Young Team of the Year
Saalim Naser and Riley Dumsday - Tennis

Team of the Year
Anglesea SLSC - Life Saving

Community Sporting Event of the Year
GO Soccer Mums Cup Day - Football Victoria

Community Sporting Club of the Year
Officer City Soccer Club - Football

Sports Administrator of the Year - Eunice Gill Award
Danielle Lowerson - Tennis Victoria

Sport Initiative of the Year
Reflecting their community - Red Cliffs Golf Club

Local Government Initiative of the Year
Creating LGBTIQ+ connection and inclusion through sport and active recreation - Cardinia Shire Council

Volunteer of the Year
Harry Saltis - Taekwondo

Initiative of the Year
Women’s Only Slide Night - WaterMarc Banyule

Masters Athlete of the Year
Jarrod Broadbent - Tennis

Young Athlete of the Year
Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva - Rhythmic Gymnastics

Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport Award
2022 Australian Open - Golf Australia

Peter Norman Inclusion Award
Southern Lights - Ice Hockey

Frank Wilkes Award
Scotty James - Snowboarding

Kitty McEwan Award
Jakara Anthony - Mogul Skiing

Victorian State Government Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport
Neale Daniher AO

Each year, the Victorian Sport Awards honours the athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in Victoria as well as the initiatives that promoted sport and active recreation participation.