Each year, the Victorian Sport Awards honours the athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in Victoria as well as the initiatives that promoted sport and active recreation participation.
Presented by the State Government of Victoria and Vicsport on Wednesday 7 June 2023, this year’s Victorian Sport Awards were held in the Victory Room at Marvel Stadium.
Winners across 19 categories were announced after being nominated by State Sporting Associations as well as teammates, club members, friends, family and the recipient’s local community.
An esteemed panel of 37 highly qualified Victorian sports people including Olympians, world-renowned athletes and State Sporting Association CEOs were then charged with selecting the finalists and winners.
Judges included four-time Olympic marathoner Steve Moneghetti AM OLY, Head of Female Cricket at Cricket Victoria Sharelle McMahon as well as CEOs from the Victorian Institute of Sport (Anne Marie Harrison), Netball Victoria (Andrea Pearman), Bowls Victoria (Tony Sherwill) and Disability Sport & Recreation Victoria (Liz Tesone).
The most prestigious honour bestowed on the night is the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award, presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, sport in Victoria. This year’s recipient was Neale Daniher AO.
Winners in the 20 total categories of the 2022 Victorian Sport Awards are as follows:
Coach of the Year
- Angela McMillan – Aerobic Gymnastics
Community Coach of the Year
- Presley Naea – Rugby Union
Official of the Year
- John Roberts – Lawn Bowls
Community Official of the Year
- Kylie Clark – Life Saving
Young Team of the Year
- Saalim Naser and Riley Dumsday - Tennis
Team of the Year
- Anglesea SLSC – Life Saving
Community Sporting Event of the Year
- GO Soccer Mums Cup Day – Football Victoria
Community Sporting Club of the Year
- Officer City Soccer Club – Football
Sports Administrator of the Year – Eunice Gill Award
- Danielle Lowerson – Tennis Victoria
Sport Initiative of the Year
- Reflecting their community – Red Cliffs Golf Club
Local Government Initiative of the Year
- Creating LGBTIQ+ connection and inclusion through sport and active recreation – Cardinia Shire Council
Volunteer of the Year
- Harry Saltis – Taekwondo
Initiative of the Year
- Women’s Only Slide Night – WaterMarc Banyule
Masters Athlete of the Year
- Jarrod Broadbent – Tennis
Young Athlete of the Year
- Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva – Rhythmic Gymnastics
Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport Award
- 2022 Australian Open – Golf Australia
Peter Norman Inclusion Award
- Southern Lights – Ice Hockey
Frank Wilkes Award
- Scotty James – Snowboarding
Kitty McEwan Award
- Jakara Anthony – Mogul Skiing
Victorian State Government Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport
- Neale Daniher AO