Knox Sport and Leisure Awards

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

About the awards

Established in 2017, 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.

Nominate a club or volunteer

You can nominate any club or volunteer for an award of years of service recognition, regardless of whether they are involved in your club or not. You can even nominate your own club!

To find out more about the criteria for each award, see our Sports and Leisure Awards booklet.

Select the award category that best reflects the work of the club/volunteer, and then complete the online nomination form.

Nomination categories

Areas for which you nominate clubs or individuals include:

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Club of the Year Award

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 Award

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.

Junior or Adult Club Person of the Year Award

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

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

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.

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 will be recognised at the Awards evening.

2022 Awards Nominations

Nominations will be opening in January 2023 for the 2022 Sport and Leisure Awards, A nomination link will be published on this page.

Nominations open: 20 January 2022
Nominations close: 27 March 2022
Event date: 28 June 2022

For more details, email Leisure.Services@knox.vic.gov.au.

To find out more about the criteria for each award, see our Sports and Leisure Awards booklet.

Previous Knox Sports and Leisure Award winners

Knox City Council would like to congratulate all winners and nominees for their outstanding efforts to the local sporting community, and say thank you to the Award sponsors.

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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

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

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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Knox Sport and Leisure Awards

About the awards

Nominate a club or volunteer

Nomination categories

2022 Awards Nominations

Previous Knox Sports and Leisure Award winners

Years of Service Recognition

Years of Service Recognition

Years of Service Recognition

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