Knox Council has honoured the hard-working volunteers who are the back-bone of local sporting and leisure clubs at the annual Knox Sports and Leisure Awards held on 12 June at the Knox Civic Centre.
The awards, sponsored this year by Scoresby business Nitto Denko Australia, and proudly supported by Belgravia Leisure were established to recognise and reward volunteers as well as the clubs that have worked diligently to provide positive programs and opportunities for the community.
This year we had a record 76 nominations across all award categories. The winners were:
Club of the Year
Bayswater Junior Football Club
Best Club Initiated Program Award (joint winners)
Knox Boat Fishing Club
Ferntree Gully Cricket Club
Club Person of the Year (Adult) Award (joint winners)
Beccy Dawber – Bayswater Junior Football Club
Kevin Van Grondelle – Wantirna South Junior Football Club
Club Person of the Year (Junior) Award
Emma Smith – Eastern Raptors Rugby League Club and Touch Association
Women in Sport Leadership Award
Kate Potter – Scoresby Magpies Junior Football Club
Years of Service Awards
Awards were also presented to 17 recipients:
50 Years: Michael Stoffels (Knox City Football Club)
40 years: Keith Abblitt (Bayswater Cricket Club), Cyril Heron (Bayswater Football Club), David Wareham (Omega Trampoline Sports Club), Marion Wareham (Omega Trampoline Sports Club), Meryl Anderson (Omega Trampoline Sports Club).
30 years: Justin Polwarth (Lysterfield Cricket Club), Phil O’Shannassy (Knox Football Netball Club), Alison Rogers (Wantirna Tennis Club).
20 years: Collette Keyser (Knox Gymnastics Club), Eric Beeston (Knoxfield Tennis Club), Dean Palandri (St Johns Tecoma Cricket Club), Pierre Schumann (Knox Football Netball Club), Marion Wareham (Carrington Park Leisure Centre Management Committee), David Wareham (Carrington Park Leisure Centre Management Committee), Meryl Anderson (Carrington Park Leisure Centre Management Committee), Clive Savory (Wantirna South Netball Club).
Special guest speakers were reigning Brownlow medallist, Hawthorn Football Club’s Tom Mitchell, Deakin Boomers rising star Ezi Magbegor and Olympic Swimmer Brooke Hanson OAM who shared stories about their own sporting careers and the support they received.
As stated by Mayor, Cr Jake Keogh:
- Congratulations to all our 2019 winners and to all those who were recognised for their many years of service to local sports.
- These dedicated volunteers are the backbone of our local sport and leisure clubs – whether they be coaching, volunteering on committees, umpiring, running the canteen or cutting oranges. They make it possible for local sports to survive and thrive.
- Thank you also to our major sponsor, Nitto Denko, a proud local company based in Scoresby, who have generously supported this year’s awards.
