Day in and day out we see Victorians go that extra yard, especially when it comes to giving it their all for their sports.

People like Athena Babo who was recognised as the 2019 Volunteer of the Year for her tireless work at the Pascoe Vale Football Club.

From her voluntary work as club secretary to her inspiring work leading the club’s first Women in Business function. She’s been instrumental in setting up the club’s Wellbeing Committee, an All-Abilities Program and a Youth Development Program.

Most notably, Athena was instrumental in promoting the “Save Hakeem” campaign through local, state and federal government authorities.

She’s just one of the 19 home grown sport heroes, athletes, coaches, clubs, officials and volunteers from grassroots levels through to elite ranks, honoured at the 2019 Victorian Sport Awards. Sport just wouldn’t happen without them and we’d like to thank our winners and finalists for all their outstanding efforts.

Here are the winners in all 2019 Victorian Sport Awards categories:

Victorian Government Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport

The late Peter Thomson – golf

Victorian Coach of the Year

Jeff Hopkins – Melbourne Victory (W-League)

Victorian Community Coach of the Year

Hannah Every-Hall – PowerHouse Rowing Club

Victorian Official of the Year

Susan Taylor – Mountain District Badminton Association/Badminton Victoria

Victorian Community Official of the Year

Sally Whitehouse – Wodonga City Swimming Club

Administrator of the Year

Grant Cosgriff – Triathlon Victoria

Volunteer of the Year

Athena Babo – Pascoe Vale FC

Love the Game Community Sporting Club of the Year Award

Kyvalley Tennis Club

Masters Athlete of the Year

Mark Thompson – Powerpoints Masters Swimming

Team of the Year

Victorian Fury (netball)

Victorian Young Team of the Year

Victorian Equestrian Interschools Team

Young Athlete of the Year

Gabriella Peiniger (swimmer) – MLC Aquatic

Male Athlete of the Year

Dylan Alcott – tennis

Female Athlete of the Year

Lucy Stephan – rowing

Victorian Local Government Initiative of the Year

Casey Stadium

Active Recreation Initiative of the Year

Melbourne Tennis Month – Tennis Victoria

Community Sporting Event of the Year

Victorian Sikh Games

Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport Award

Lachlan Rayner – athletics

Peter Norman Inclusion Award

Naomi Symington & Janet Jones – Surf Life Saving