DAE Global
DAE Global is one of the world’s leading international creative and production practitioners, creating award-winning sport, culture and entertainment experiences for over 30 years. It was…
read moreAquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) has celebrated the best of Victoria’s aquatic industry at the 2024 Gala Industry awards event.
Held on Friday 21st June at Centrepiece, Melbourne Park, the 2024 event was the largest awards yet, with a record 927 guests in attendance.
With 254 nominations received, the award program’s 77 judges selected 25 deserving award recipients, showcasing the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in 2023.
The event opened with performance from the Airline Dancers, bringing the ‘Around the World’ theme to life before host Tony Jones - who has supported ARV for 15 years - took to the stage.
Among the awards, Warren Green inducted as a new ARV Life member.
2024 ARV Award Winners
Customer Service Award
Megan Stevens, Active Monash
Membership Sales Award
Ronelle Dorkin, Belgravia Leisure
Duty Manager of the Year Award:
Winner: Alana Hinkley, Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services
Highly Commended: Courtnery Canning, Springers Leisure Centre - South East Leisure
Most Valuable Employee Award:
Winner: Alana Taylor, WynActive - Western Leisure Services
Highly Commended: Jessica O'Connell, Dandenong Oasis - South East Leisure
Pool Lifeguard Award
Kirra McCague, Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre - Aligned Leisure
Swim Teacher - General Award
Shannon Gardner, Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre - Peninsula Leisure
Swim Teacher - Babies, Infants and Preschool Award
Patricia Gussenhoven, Knox Leisureworks - Belgravia Leisure
Swim Teacher - Persons with a Disability Award:
Winner: Christine Meek, Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre - Hume City Council
Highly Commended: Aaron Richardson, Ivanhoe Swim - Ivanhoe Grammar School
Swim School Award:
Winner: Camberwell Grammar School
Highly Commended: Bayfit Leisure Centre - BlueFit
Watch Around Water Award
Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services
Nutrition and Healthy Choices Award
Monash Sport
Outstanding Contribution to the Aquatic and Recreation Industry Award
Brett Diprose - Warren and Mahoney architects
Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Life Membership
Warren Green
Emerging Leader Award
Georgia Rock (Gordon), Northern Aquatic & Community Hub - City of Greater Geelong
Innovative Program Award
Lifeguard on Watch, Windy Hill Fitness Centre - BlueFit
Sustainability Award
Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre - Clublinks
Marketing and Communications Award
Yarra Leisure
Group Exercise Instructor Award
Winner: Wayne Abrahams, Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services
Highly Commended: Julia Jones, Melbourne City Baths - City of Melbourne
Personal Trainer/Gym Instructor Award
Winner: Fitim Bekiri, Brimbank Aquatic & Wellness Centre - Brimbank Leisure
Highly Commended: Michelle Millhouse, Mill Park Leisure - Belgravia Leisure
Health Club Award
Winner: Brimbank Aquatic & Wellness Centre - Brimbank Leisure
Highly Commended: Mildura Waves Aquatic and Leisure Centre - Aligned Leisure
Community Impact Award
Activating Vulnerable Communities, Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre - Peninsula Leisure
Facility Management - Seasonal Award
Red Cliffs Swimming Pool - Aligned Leisure
Facility Management - Small Award
Winner: Phillip Island Leisure Centre - The Y
Highly Commended: Berrydale Swim School
Facility Management - Medium Award
Wangaratta Sports & Aquatic Centre - City of Wangaratta
Facility Management - Large Award
Winner: Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre - Brimbank Leisure
Highly Commended: Mill Park Leisure - Belgravia Leisure
The event was supported by Platinum Sponsor Perfect Gym along with Gold Sponsors, Roejen Services, Para Mobility and UPR Plumbing.
Images: Alana Hinkley of Aquapulse - Western Leisure Services receives her Duty Manager of the Year Award from Todd McHardy of BlueFit (top) and (below, from left) ARV Chairman Andrew Hocking, Brett Diprose - recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Aquatic and Recreation Industry Award, presented by Tom Beaurepair on behalf of the Beaurepair Family.
28th June 2024 - Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards Winners announced at NSC 2024
26th June 2024 - Craigie Leisure Centre named Community Facility of Year at PLAWA Awards
24th June 2024 - Phillip Island Leisure Centre wins at ARV awards
21st June 2024 - YMCA Victoria facilities complete migration to PerfectGym
22nd May 2024 - BlueFit named as new operator of Camden Council’s Aquatic and Leisure Centres
20th May 2024 - ARV and LSV partner in presenting 2024 Victorian Aquatics and Recreation Industry Conference
7th May 2024 - BlueFit and Fitness and Lifestyle Group announce learn to swim partnership
12th April 2024 - Strategy Summit looks to drive cohesion across the aquatic and recreation industry
26th March 2024 - ARV EMERGENT Leadership Program returns in 2024
22nd February 2024 - Aligned Leisure secures contract to manage City of Casey aquatic, recreation and sport facilities
15th February 2024 - Victoria’s Diversity and Inclusion in Leisure Forum attracts more than 200 delegates
18th January 2024 - Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre recognised with sustainability award
13th November 2023 - Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre officially opens
2nd November 2023 - South East Leisure secures Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence
9th October 2023 - Over 300 delegates welcomed to ARV 2023 industry conference
31st August 2023 - ARV announces return of Advancing Women in Aquatics and Recreation leadership series
22nd August 2023 - ARV announces line up for 2023 Industry Conference
14th July 2023 - New ARV COVID-19 recovery report charts upward trend in post pandemic facility attendances
12th July 2023 - 883 attendees acknowledge 27 winners at ARV industry awards
29th June 2023 - Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre secures ‘Large Facility of the Year’ ARV award
5th May 2023 - ARV Regional Conference set to focus on sustainability
11th April 2023 - ARV seminar prepares managers for proposed OH&S (Psychological Health) amendment regulations
8th September 2022 - Yarra Leisure partners with AUSactive to deliver inclusive fitness programs
13th November 2020 - ARV water safety award success for Western Leisure Services
16th February 2012 - Watch Around Water program reaches 100 pools in Victoria
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