The annual UWA Sports Awards, held on Tuesday 24 October at the University Club, celebrated a historic moment with awarding of the inaugural Volunteer of the Year award.
The luncheon, presented by MC Jacob Landsmeer , was attended by a variety of members of the UWA Sport community. Special guests included Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Colmer, Director of Student Accommodation & Community Ian Fitzpatrick, Convocation Chair Nee Nee Ong, Warden of the UWA Convocation Jenny Gregory AM and Naomi Wheat, Director of Student Services, UWA School of Indigenous Studies.
Proceedings began with Noongar Elder Barry Winmar leading a Welcome to Country before Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Tim Colmer delivered the UWA Welcome Address along with Acting Head of Sport, Kristina Mitsikas providing the UWA Sport Welcome Address.
This year, the theme of the awards focused on the success and journey of UWA Affiliated Sports Clubs. Outgoing UWA Sports Council President Emma Bond spoke to the importance of sporting volunteers and club members in building a successful club, which was reflected throughout the award proceedings.
The UWA Sport Club Service Award acknowledges UWA students who have demonstrated a minimum of three years’ sporting commitment alongside dedicated service to their UWA Affiliated Sports Club. Club Service recipients often have a lasting effect and profound impact on their club and sport during their time at UWA. This year, Phillipa Pedley was awarded with a Club Service Award for her sustained contribution to the UWA Water Polo Club.
Club Letter Awards are the highest tribute that the university can pay to non-student club members. The recipients of club letters have achieved excellence in sporting standards in international competition or volunteered for their UWA Affiliated Sports Club over a substantial period of time, and in that time have gone above and beyond normal expectations of a volunteer for their club. Congratulations to the following award winners:
• Jeremy Gillbanks of the UWA Boat Club
• Joshua Sharpe of the UWA Cricket Club
• Melissa Dennehy of the UWA Judo Club
• Guan Tay of the UWA Nedlands Football Club
• Braden Fyneman of the UWA West Coast Swimming Club
• Chris Bausor of the UWA Hockey Club
This year, UWA Sport presented the inaugural Volunteer of the Year award to recognise the incredible volunteers that are key drivers and contributors to sport at the University and within the wider community. It is awarded to a currently enrolled student or member of a UWA Affiliated Sports Club who has made an exceptional contribution to their club or the University sport environment in a volunteer capacity. Congratulations to Melissa Dennehy, the inaugural recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award. Melissa has been instrumental in the growth of the UWA Judo Club to become one of the largest in Australia, with particular growth in female participation. Melissa has made significant contribution to the delivery of many of the clubs’ community programs.
The Coach of the Year award recognises the outstanding contribution of those that work tirelessly behind the scenes and is awarded to the coach of a UWA Affiliated Sports Club who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of performance, participation and inclusivity over the past 12 months. Congratulations Viv Paver on winning the Coach of the Year award. Viv Paver is the current High Performance Coach and Colts Coach for the UWA Cricket Club, coaching and mentoring the top senior players at the club.
The Champion Club award is one of the most hotly contested awards each year for the UWA Affiliates Sports Club that demonstrated excellence in the areas of participation, performance, and inclusion over the past 12 months. Congratulations to the UWA Nedlands Football club for being named this year’s winner. Founded in 1949, the UWA Nedlands Football Club is one of the largest soccer clubs in WA and has had an outstanding year not only growing in numbers but also thriving in performance and inclusivity. The UWA Nedlands Football Club champions All Abilities and Inclusion programs, and actively works to eliminate discrimination, harassment and bullying from their club. The club also champions the development and inclusion of women in sport through their comprehensive girls’ pathways.
The Sports Star of the Year Award was first presented in 1957, and since then more than 60 students have received this award and have built a legacy in sport and their communities. Congratulations to the back-to-back winner of this prestigious award, Courtney Bruce. The UWA student athlete has had a stellar year on the national and international stages and is regarded as one of the leading netball defenders in Australia. In 2023, Courtney Bruce was a member of the Australian Diamonds Gold medallist team at the Netball World Cup, where she was also named Defensive Player of the Tournament. She was also a part of the Quad Series winning team and recently the Constellation Cup winning team . Due to international commitments, Courtney was unfortunately unable to attend the award proceedings.
Congratulations to all award nominees, finalists and winners, and thank you to all who attended.