The annual UWA Sports Awards, held on Friday 25 October at the University Club, celebrated a historic moment for the UWA Hockey Club and UWA Nedlands Football Club.
The night-time event, presented by MC Jarrod Goold, was attended by a variety of members of the UWA Sport community. Special guests included Director of Student Accommodation and Community Ian Fitzpatrick, Convocation Chair Nee Nee Ong, Warden of UWA Convocation Emeritus Professor Jenny Gregory AM, and members of the UWA Sports Advisory Group and board members.
Proceedings began with a Welcome to Country by Whadjuk, Wilman and Kaneang Nyoongar man, Alton Walley, before Director of Student Accommodation & Community Ian Fitzpatrick delivered the UWA Welcome Address along with Warden of the UWA Convocation, Emeritus Professor Jenny Gregory AM providing the UWA Convocation Welcome Address.
UWA Sports Council President Taneesha Stallbaum spoke to the importance of sporting volunteers and club members in building a successful club, before acknowledging the 100th anniversary of the UWA Hockey Club and the 75th anniversary of the UWA Nedlands Football Club. The achievements of UWA’s 13 Olympic and Paralympic athletes were also recognised during the evening.
This year, 10 students received the UWA Sport Club Service Award, acknowledging 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’s recipients are:
- Indigo Bew, UWA Volleyball Club
- Emma Bond, UWA West Coast Swimming Club
- Connor Brace, UWA Boat Club
- Ethan Bromley, UWA Boat Club
- Oliver Cliff, UWA Boat Club
- Shevanka Dias Abeyagunawardene, UWA Ultimate Club
- Jack Dowling, UWA Basketball Club
- Sarah Hynes, UWA Athletics Club
- Alexander Melville, UWA Cricket Club
- Shrudeep Suresh, UWA Basketball Club
10 club members were also recognised for their contribution to sport at UWA through the Club Letter awards. 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 Club Letter Award winners:
- Harrison Cooke, UWA Boat Club
- Sylvia Czajko, UWA West Coast Swimming Club
- Robert Golding, UWA Boat Club
- Thomas Gosling, UWA Hockey Club
- Andrew Hilditch, UWA Athletics Club
- Chris Nelson, UWA Hockey Club
- Scott Rawlins, UWA Fencing Club
- Angus Rowe, UWA Boat Club
- Aishath Ulya Shaig, UWA West Coast Swimming Club
- Ray Wyatt, UWA Aikido Club
UWA Sport continued its commitment in recognising the incredible volunteers who are key drivers and contributors to sport at UWA and the wider community. This year, the Volunteer of the Year award was presented to UWA Cricket Club member Mitch Rosher for his outstanding leadership throughout his four years as President of the UWA Cricket Club. Mitch has been instrumental in launching the UWA Cricket Club’s Indigenous inclusion projects including the Kevin O’Keefe scholarship and development of the Indigenous training shirt. As a central figure at the club, Mitch has been integral to the recent resurgence of the club.
The Coach of the Year award was presented to UWA West Coast Swimming Club Head Coach Robert Palfrey, who has been instrumental in the adoption, promotion and growth of the UWA Student Squad. The award acknowledges Palfrey’s ability to work tirelessly behind the scenes and his contribution to the club in the areas of performance, participation, and inclusivity over the past 12 months. This year, Rob’s influence on the UWA West Coast Swimming Club resulted in 35 club swimmers qualifying for the National Age Championships and National Open Championships.
First presented in 1957 and since awarded to over 60 students, the Sports Star of the Year Award recognises the individual achievements of our most elite student athletes. This year, Iona Anderson was named the winner of this prestigious award. The first-year student athlete has had a stellar year in the pool, competing in the 100m backstroke and 50m backstroke and collecting two medals at the World Championships in Doha, followed by two medals at the Paris Olympic Games.
The Champion Club award is one of the most hotly contested awards each year and is awarded to the UWA Affiliate Sports Club that demonstrated excellence in the areas of participation, performance, and inclusion over the past 12 months. The UWA Hockey Club was named this year’s winner. Founded in 1924 by UWA students, the club has grown to compete in every level of competition within Hockey WA, including the top Men's and Women's 'Premier League' divisions. The club’s history is laden with success, with a total of the 12 championships in the Men’s Premier Grade and an incredible 15 championships in the Women’s Premier Grade. Over the course of the century, the club has established itself as one of the largest and most prestigious hockey clubs in Australia with over 1000 members across a variety of divisions.
This year, the club headlined its Pride Round and Indigenous Round with jerseys created by Whadjuk man and club member Harry Golding. The club also won the Byrne Judge Cup by Hockey WA for the third consecutive year as the best performing Senior Club, with over half of the club’s teams across both senior and junior competitions competing in finals, with 8 premierships claimed across the club. Adding to the club’s successes, 13 members were selected for the 2024 State Senior teams, the Perth Thundersticks, and 4 members represented Australia at the Paris Olympic Games.
Congratulations to all award nominees, finalists and winners, and thank you to all who attended.