Sport NSW announces Community Sports winners and Long Service Award recipients

July 2, 2023

Marketing / Recreation / Sport /

Sport NSW has announced 12 Community Sports Award category winners and honoured 23 men and women with a Distinguished Long Service Award at its 2023 Sports Foyer NSW Community Sports Awards.

Presented at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium on Thursday evening, the presentation evening saw recipients from a wide cross-section of sports receive their Awards from NSW Minister for Sport Stephen Kamper.

The Community Sports Awards and the Distinguished Long Service Awards acknowledge outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport.

This year’s Awards also saw the introduction of two new Awards, the Inclusion Award and the Innovation Award.

The 12 Community Sports Award were shared among nine different sports with Royal Life Saving, cricket, surf life saving and gymnastics each collecting two awards.

Paying tribute to the Award recipients, Sport NSW Chairperson, Chris Hall stated “it is fitting these community sports recipients are recognised and honoured. It is because of their efforts that NSW remains the premier sports state in Australia.

“Sport in NSW relies on these selfless volunteers who have dedicated their time to community sport. Put simply, sport would not exist without them.

“Their enduring contributions showcases why community sport is the beating heart of community sport in NSW and we thank all staff and volunteers for their exceptional dedication."

The Community Sports Awards category winners are:

Community Club of The Year
Hills Hornets Touch Football Association

Community Coach of The Year
Amber Cross (netball)

Community Event of The Year
Gymnastics NSW Country Championships

Community Official of The Year
Rozlynn Grey OAM (Royal Life Saving)

Community Sports Administrator of The Year
Andrew Bowden (Royal Life Saving)

Community Team of The Year (joint winners)
North Cronulla Open Women’s Beach Relay Team (surf lifesaving) and Equestrian NSW State Interstate Team

Inclusion Award (joint winners)
Gymnastics NSW and Pasifica Youth Cup hosted by Sydney Junior Rugby Union

Innovation Award
Live Heats (surf lifesaving)

Volunteer Director of The Year
Amanda Fraser (cricket)

Young Coach of The Year
Elysa Oliveri (cricket)

Young Official of The Year
Fiorella Collins (Little Athletics)

Local Council of The Year
Blacktown Council

Distinguished Long Service Award recipients are:
Angelo Santangelo - fencing
Anita Keelan - netball
Barbara and Kevin Weimer - tennis
Bernadette Spedding - gymnastics
Bill Anderson - cricket
Chris Baker - motorcycling
David Archbold - athletics
Dereck Fineberg - Little Athletics
Eli Demeny - Sailability
Gerry Knights - South-West Sydney Academy of Sport
Gwyn Mulholland - motorsport
Ian Matthew - touch football
Jillian Long - hockey
Larry Brown - Deaf Netball
Margaret and Allan Gregson - swimming
Margaret Beaumont - basketball
Maureen Worth - surf life saving
Mike Mackney - paddle
Steve Woodger - Northern NSW Football
Terry Bluett - orienteering
Terry Hellyer - archery

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1st July 2022 - Sport NSW honours community sport and roll of volunteers

20th February 2022 - 2022 Sport NSW Industry Conference returns to Australian College of Physical Education

10th December 2021 - Wheelchair Sport NSW/ACT’s ‘How I Roll’ initiative named overall winner at Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards

2nd June 2021 - Sport NSW presents 2021 community and volunteer award winners

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27th November 2020 - Inner West recognised as Sport NSW Local Council of the Year

20th November 2020 - Sport NSW presents 2020 community and volunteer Award winners

1st February 2019 - Member data will see Sport NSW Market Segmentation Platform change planning and investment

13th April 2018 - Sport NSW welcomes NSW Government funding for community facilities

30th March 2018 - Sport NSW calls for stadium savings to be invested in the suburbs

5th June 2017 - Sport NSW teams with Randwick Council and UNSW to present Girls Get Active Day

22nd November 2016 - Blacktown City Council Signs On with Sport NSW

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