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Knox Sport and Leisure Awards

The annual Knox Sport and Leisure Awards celebrate our volunteers within our local sports and leisure clubs.

About the awards

Established in 2016, the Knox Sport and Leisure Awards aims to create sustainable sporting groups through the retention of volunteers and promotion of award-winning club initiatives to the wider Knox community.

2024 Award Winners

The 2024 Knox Sport & Leisure Awards were held at the Knox Civic Centre on 19 June 2024.

The winners of each category are below.

Council congratulates all nominees and winners for their achievements and their contribution to sport in Knox.

Club of the Year

The Club of the Year Award is awarded to Ferntree Gully Cricket Club.

This award goes to a Knox-based sport and leisure club who:

  • has implemented good governance structures
  • has attended Council’s Club Development Workshops
  • are inclusive and supportive to volunteers.

Best Club Initiated Program

The Best Club Initiated Program Award is awarded to Bluebirds Softball Club & Diamond Softball Club, Home Run Heroes.

This award goes to a Knox-based club that supports an inclusive program aligned with the goals outlined within the Knox Community and Council Plan 2017-2022.

Club Person of the Year (Adult)

The Adult and Junior Club Person of the Year Awards are awarded to volunteers who have made a significant contribution to their club:

  • Kyle Chandler, Bayswater Striker Soccer Club
  • Belinda Cunningham, Mountain Gate Cricket Club
  • Rebecca Redfern, Ferntree Gully Tennis Club

Club Person of the Year (Junior)

The Junior award is for volunteers who are 17 years of age and under (as at the annual date of the Awards event):

  • Hayden Atkinson, Knox Softball Association
  • Maddie Block, Ferntree Gully Netball Club
  • Ash Geary-Smith, Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers Baseball Club
  • Alina Gibb, Golden Cobra Martial Arts
  • Jack Taylor, Wantirna South Junior Football Club

2024 Women in Sport Leadership Award

The Women in Sport Leadership Award is awarded to female volunteers who have made a significant contribution to their club whilst holding a position(s) of leadership such as a President, Coach or Official:

  • Belinda Cunningham, Mountain Gate Cricket Club
  • Linda De lulio, Knox Gardens Cricket Club
  • Lynne Simpson, Eastern Raptors Rugby Club

Years of Service Recognition

Recognition for Years of Service is given to long-standing volunteers within local sport and leisure clubs. This recognition starts at 20 years of service and goes up in increments of 10 years (for example 20, 30).

All volunteers nominated under this category were recognised at the Awards evening.

Years of Service recipients:

  • Dean Glare, 20 years, Ferntree Gully Cricket Club
  • Ramon Mihailovici, 20 years, Rowville Eagles Football Club
  • Bruce Rogers, 20 years, Fairpark Football Club
  • George Mitrea, 20 years, Rowville Eagles Football Club
  • Donald McCracken, 20 years, Templeton Tennis Club
  • Ian Hampton, 20 years, Special Olympics Melbourne Eastern Ranges
  • Greg Mastertoun, 40 years, Ferntree Gully Eagles Football Club
  • Melissa McKenzie, 40 years, Fairpark Netball Club
     
2023 Awards

The 2023 Knox Sport and Leisure Awards were held at the Knox Civic Centre on 21 June 2023.

The winners of each category are below.

Council congratulates all nominees and winners for their achievements and their contribution to sport in Knox.

Club of the Year: Templeton Cricket Club.

The Club of the Year Award is awarded to a Knox-based sport and leisure club who:

  • has implemented good governance structures
  • has attended Council’s Club Development Workshops
  • are inclusive and supportive to volunteers.


Best Club Initiated Program: Ferntree Gully Tennis Club.

The Best Club Initiated Program Award is awarded to a Knox-based club that supports an inclusive program aligned with the goals outlined within the Knox Community and Council Plan 2017-2022.

Club Person of the Year (Adult): Joel Clarke, The Basin Cricket Club.

The Adult and Junior Club Person of the Year Awards are awarded to volunteers who have made a significant contribution to their club.

Club Person of the Year (Junior) - Lily Vlahogiannis, The Basin Wildcats and Jade Ruighaver, Ferntree Gully Netball Club.

The Junior award is for volunteers who are 17 years of age and under (as at the annual date of the Awards event).

2023 Women in Sport Leadership Award: Eva Orlowski-Oliver.

The Women in Sport Leadership Award is awarded to female volunteers who have made a significant contribution to their club whilst holding a position(s) of leadership such as a President, Coach or Official.

Years of Service Recognition

Recognition for Years of Service is given to long-standing volunteers within local sport and leisure clubs. This recognition starts at 20 years of service and goes up in increments of 10 years (for example 20, 30).

All volunteers nominated under this category were recognised at the Awards evening.

Years of Service recipients:

Years of ServiceAward Recipient/s
40 YearsMaureen Portbury - Scoresby Tennis Centre Inc.
30 YearsSue Rigg - Knox and District Softball Association.
20 Years

Denise Van Egmond - Bayswater Strikers Soccer Club

Mark Murphy - Bayswater Strikers Soccer Club

2020/2021 Awards

Watch the awards ceremony on YouTube.

Award Category Award Winners

Club of the Year

Awarded to a Knox based sport and leisure club who has implemented good governance structures, attended Council’s Club Development Workshops and are inclusive and supportive to their volunteers.

Wantirna Tennis Club

Best Club Initiated Program

Awarded to a Knox based sport and leisure club that has implemented an inclusive program that aligns with the goals outlined within the Knox Community and Council Plan 2017-2022.

Knox City Football Club

Club Person of the Year (Adult)

Awarded to volunteers who are 18 years of age and over, who have made a significant contribution to their club.

Mark Tyrrell
Knox City Football Club

Adrian Thomas
Upper Ferntree Gully Junior Football Club

Club Person of the Year (Junior)

Awarded to volunteers who are 17 years of age and under, who have made a significant contribution to their club.

Jackson Creek Sherbrooke Little Athletics

Matthew Rose Myer
Boronia Cricket Club

Women in Sport Leadership

Awarded to female volunteers who have made a significant contribution to their club whilst holding a position(s) of leadership such as a President, Coach or Official.

Kristen Elder
St John’s Tecoma Cricket Club

2019 Awards
Award Category Award Winner/s

Club of the Year

Awarded to a Knox based sport and leisure club who has implemented good governance structures, attended Council’s Club Development Workshops and are inclusive and supportive to their volunteers.

Bayswater Junior Football Club

Best Club Initiated Program

Awarded to a Knox based sport and leisure club that has implemented an inclusive program that aligns with the goals outlined within the Knox Community and Council Plan 2017-2022.

Ferntree Gully Cricket Club

Knox Boat Fishing Club

Club Person of the Year (Adult)

Awarded to volunteers who are 18 years of age and over, who have made a significant contribution to their club.

Beccy Dawber - Bayswater Junior Football Club

Kevin Van Grondelle - Wantirna South Junior Football Club

Club Person of the Year (Junior)

Awarded to volunteers who are 17 years of age and under, who have made a significant contribution to their club.

Emma Smith - Eastern Raptors Rugby League Club and Touch Association

Women in Sport Leadership

Awarded to female volunteers who have made a significant contribution to their club whilst holding a position(s) of leadership such as a President, Coach or Official.

Kate Potter - Scoresby Magpies Junior Football Club

Years of Service Recognition

Awarded to long-standing volunteers within local sport and leisure clubs.

Years of Service Award Recipient/s

50 Years

Michael Stoffels - Knox City Football Club

40 Years

Cyril Heron - Bayswater Football Club

David Wareham - Omega Trampoline Sports Club

Keith Abblitt - Bayswater Cricket Club

Marion Wareham - Omega Trampoline Sports Club

Meryl Anderson - Omega Trampoline Sports Club

30 Years

Alison Rogers - Wantirna Tennis Club

Justin Polwarth - Lysterfield Cricket Club

Phil O'Shannassy - Knox Football Netball Club

20 Years

Clive Savory - Wantirna South Netball Club

Collette Keyser - Knox Gymnastics Club

David Wareham - Carrington Park Leisure Centre Management Committee

Dean Palandri - St Johns Tecoma Cricket Club

Eric Beeston - Knoxfield Tennis Club (posthumously awarded)

Marion Wareham - Carrington Park Leisure Centre Management Committee

Meryl Anderson - Carrington Park Leisure Centre Management Committee

Pierre Schumann - Knox Football Netball Club

2018 Awards
Award Category Award Winner/s

Club of the Year

Wantirna South Junior Football Club

An exemplary club within the Knox community, not only conducting programs for football participants on weekends, but also promoting football in local schools by conducting free Come 'N Try clinics.

The Club adheres to good governance practices through transparency of reports and minutes, clear and concise job descriptions for everyone. They are also compliant with child safe standards and encourages the provision of opportunities for underrepresented groups to hold leadership positions within the Club.

Best Club Initiated Program

Scoresby Magpies Junior Football Club

This club have partnered with Anchor Foster Care to support children living in all forms of ‘out of home care’ placements to play football for free (registration and uniform fees covered by sponsorship and fundraising programs through the club).

The program, which is open to all boys and girls aged 5 – 17 of all abilities, aims to address the negative stereotypes and perceptions associated with being in foster care or being adopted. The programs’ goal is to support children and develop their self-esteem and self-worth by being involved in an inclusive environment.

Club Person of the Year (Adult)

Stephen Clark

Stephen has been credited as one of the main reasons for Knox City FC's thriving junior program. Through his passion for coaching children (for over 20 years) and love for the game, Stephen has overseen the club's numbers grow from 10 – 200 players in five years.

Currently serving as the Director of Coaching, Stephen is responsible for supporting all coaches to perform at a high level.

Club Person of the Year (Junior)

Ashleigh Bertram

Ashleigh has taken up a leadership role with the younger age groups. During Cross Country season, Ashleigh volunteers her time every Saturday and loves helping around the club in any form she can. She attends many training sessions each week and provides younger and less experienced athletes with her expertise, tips, and knowledge for their improvement. Overall, Ashleigh has proven to be an excellent role model.

Women in Sport Leadership

Lisa Walshe

Lisa is a player for the Knox Women’s Football Club and also the captain, team manager, secretary, in charge of the merchandise. She also attends committee meetings.

Lisa started a youth girl’s side in 2010 and a second side in 2011. She has developed pathway programs at the club to ensure girls play Junior and Senior Women’s Football and provided an avenue for women with ambition to play football at a higher level.

Years of Service Recognition

Awarded to long-standing volunteers within local sport and leisure clubs.

Years of Service Award Recipient/s

50 Years

Anthony Aulsebrook - Victorian Basketball Referees Association - Knox Branch

Keith Boldiston - Bayswater Football Club

Ken Miller - Ferntree Gully Bowling Club

30 Years

Colin Watkeys - Knox & District Softball Umpires Association

Janice Clayton - Knox & District Softball Umpires Association

Ken Evans - Knox & District Softball Umpires Association

Merv Larter - Knox & District Softball Umpires Association

25 Years

Mike Kerr - Knox Little Athletics Centre

20 Years

Trish Maslen - Knox BMX Club

2017 Awards
Award Category Award Winner/s

Club of the Year

Knox Churches Soccer Club

A large, growing community club which gives local ;members a fun, family-orientated place to play soccer. The Club has also implemented a range of educational programs for players, committee, coaches and members covering topics including drugs, violence and mental illness.

With a diverse committee and programs that cater for players of all ages, abilities and ethnicities, the Knox Churches are truly an all-inclusive soccer club.

Best Club Initiated Program

Bayswater Park Cricket Club

The Club hosts an annual charity T20 match to raise much-needed funds for a number of charities. This year, the club raised over $28,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Multiple Sclerosis Australia, in addition to more than $17,000 raised in 2016 for the same charities.

Healthy and Wellbeing

Knox Churches Soccer Club

The Club do not sell alcohol or rely on revenue from alcohol sales. The Club has a range of healthy food choices within their canteen and a Wellbeing Committee has been established to support its members.

The Club has also engaged Sport and Life Training to run programs for their players to address issues impacting the local community including drugs, alcohol, mental illness and racism.

Club Person of the Year (Junior)
17 years and under

Ben Reynolds - Upper Ferntree Gully Junior Football Club

Harry Cormack - Knox BMX Club

Ben Verde - Knox City Football Club

Louise Kohlman - Boronia Netball Club

Club Person of the Year (Adult)
18 years and over

Daniel Tubb - Scoresby Cricket Club

Women in Sport Leadership

Sue Rigg - Knox and District Softball Association

Years of Service Recognition

Awarded to long-standing volunteers within local sport and leisure clubs.

Years of Service Award Recipient

50 Years

Christine Marshall - Boronia Netball Club

35 Years

Joan Lightowler - Rowville Tennis Club

Ruth and John McGregor - Knox Boat Fishing Club

25 Years

Mary Stephen Knox All Stars Basketball Club

Mike Quinn - Firestorm Martial Arts Centre

Trish Martin - Knox BMX Club

20 Years

Jon Gregory Franklin - 2nd/3rd Bayswater Scout Group

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