Named: Local, national heroes honoured at Victorian Sport Awards
Two Olympic cyclists have been bestowed the state’s highest individual sporting honour at the Victorian Sport Awards. See all the winners from big names to local heroes.
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Two of Victoria’s Paris Olympians have been recognised as the state’s standout athletes for 2024.
Cyclists Grace Brown and Kelland O’Brien took out the highest individual honours at the 2024 Victorian Sport Awards on Wednesday night following their success at last year’s Games.
Brown was named the Kitty McEwan Award recipient which is given to a Victorian individual athlete who produces outstanding national or international results in the female category.
Brown won gold at the Olympics in the women’s road individual time trial, Australia’s first on the road since 2004.
She also won the individual and team trials at the World Champi
onships.
O’Brien was recognised with the Frank Wilkes Award, the male equivalent of Brown’s achievement.
He was a member of the Australian team pursuit quartet in Paris which won the country’s first track gold since 2012.
Australian cricket legend Mel Jones OAM added to her long list of accolades after being presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award.
Jones represented the country between 1997 and 2005, won two World Cups and Ashes series during her career.
A statement announcing award winners said Jones had been “a pioneer on and off the cricket field who has challenged stereotypes and broken down barriers for women in a traditionally male-dominated sport”.
Since retiring from the top level, Jones has become one of the leading commentators in the world including stints with Fox Sports at home and Sky Sports in England.
She has continued to help develop and expand career opportunities for women in sport.
“One of her greatest achievements was assisting in the evacuation of the Afghanistan national women’s cricket team during the overthrow of the Afghanistan government by the Taliban,” the announcement said.
Vicsport chair Jason Hellwig recognised all award winners on the night.
“Being able to recognise and celebrate the grassroots heroes throughout Victorian sport and active recreation alongside those who excelled at an elite level is what makes the Victorian Sport Awards such a special night,” he said.
“My congratulations to everyone who was honoured including Mel Jones, a true icon for Victorian sport who has blazed a trail for female broadcasting and continues to create incredible opportunities for all women in sport.”
AWARD WINNERS
Coach of the Year
Jimmy Soufis, Futsal: Soufis spearheaded the creation of the Women’s Development League, finished the men’s season undefeated and his men’s and women’s teams won the F-League tournament.
Community Coach of the Year
Madelaine Breakspear, football: Won league championship and cup titles with Sale United and reached the Victorian Country Championship final with Latrobe Valley’s under-18 league girls.
Official of the Year
Cynthia Tam, badminton: Became the first Australian since 2014 to achieve Badminton World Federation umpire status, the highest level of accreditation for badminton umpires, and is the youngest female to be qualified.
Community Official of the Year
Peter Boulter, cricket: He umpires across multiple competitions including Sale-Maffra women’s T20s, men’s First XI, Dowling Shield and Over 65s national cricket championships.
Young Team of the Year
Joshua Garner and Jack Benyan, sailing: The duo dominated the International Cadet Class by winning Victorian, Australian and World championships in 2024, all with a race to spare.
Team of the Year
Victorian ISSF State Team, target pistol shooting: Won three team, three individual and all individual aggregate titles at the national champs and the overall team aggregate championship to claim the Manton Shield.
Community Sporting Event of the Year
Statewide Senior Football & Netball Carnival – VACSAL: The premier Aboriginal sporting event which attracts more than 1000+ athletes for a weekend of high-level competition, cultural connection and community celebration.
Community Sporting Club of the Year
Sorrento Cricket Club: The club launched its first women’s and under-18 girls’ teams in 2024, had a women’s health physiotherapist, female-specific uniforms and ran the EmpowerHer multi-sport carnival for 80 girls aged 9-17.
Victorian Sports Administrator of the Year – Eunice Gill Award
Meaghan Densley, sailing: The Victorian general manager at Sailing Australia. 2024 saw the organisation grow club membership by 3 per cent, Learn to Sail participants by 11, grassroots programs by 10 and female/junior participation by 30.
Local Government Initiative of the Year
City of Kingston: Water Safety with Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place: Increased water skills and water participation among First Nations children with a focus on swimming confidence and fundamental skills including floating, drowning prevention and rescue techniques.
Volunteer of the Year
David Kearsley, little athletics: He performs 12 roles at Knox’s club including president, competition director, photographer and website manager. He assisted Little Athletics Victoria to move the 23-24 state titles, featuring 2000+ athletes, to Knox with a fortnight’s notice.
VicHealth Sport and Active Recreation Initiative of the Year
Calisthenics Victoria, CaliStars: A competition with 50 young people which allowed performers with a disability to participate in a calisthenics competition for the first time.
Masters Athlete of the Year
Nadene Gole, golf: Won the award for the second consecutive year. Became first Australian to win golf’s two biggest senior amateur titles in England and the USA, won seven of nine world-ranking events in 2024 and finished every week ranked number one in the world.
Young Athlete of the Year
Joshua Jolly, BMX: Jolly won Junior Elite BMX World Championships, Elite Men’s Superclass championships and BMX Grand nationals for 17-20 open men.
Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport Award
Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, sailing: Grew social media presence by 23 per cent, leading to a 35 per cent growth in membership.
Peter Norman Inclusion Award
Pride Hub, Proud 2 Play: Held the world’s first pride activation at a Grand Prix event which has inspired discussions for further pride initiatives at other races worldwide.
Frank Wilkes Award
Kelland O’Brien, cycling: As a member of the Australian Team Pursuit quartet, O’Brien won gold at the Paris Olympics which was the country’s first track gold since 2012.
Kitty McEwan Award
Grace Brown, cycling: Won gold at the Paris Olympics in the Women’s Road Individual Time Trial. Also won World Road Cycling championships in the Women’s ITT and Team Time Trial.
Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport: Mel Jones OAM
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