2023/24 GIPPSTAR ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT

The Gippsland Sports Academy hosted the 64th Annual Gippstar Awards on Thursday, August 8th, drawing in 120 guests from across Gippsland, including athletes, teams, and clubs who savoured a delightful buffet dinner at the Morwell Bowling Club before the awards ceremony. The evening unfolded seamlessly under the skilful direction of MC Judi Buhagiar, the Eastern Region Manager of Netball Victoria, who engaged with award recipients while discussing their future goals and accomplishments. Esteemed representatives from Gippsland’s Local Government Authorities were on hand to present the distinguished awards.

The Gippstar Awards boast a rich legacy, celebrating exceptional athletic accomplishments by gifted individuals from Gippsland in a diverse array of sports. This year, the event showcased a wide range of disciplines, including Lawn Bowls, Athletics, Swimming, Golf-Croquet, Clay Target Shooting, Showjumping/ Modern Pentathlon, Golf, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Weightlifting, Tetrathlon, Scootering, Polocrosse, Cross Country Running, BMX, Surfing, Tetrathlon, Surf Life Saving Beach Sprint & Flags, and Triathlon.   There were 26 awards received by the successful nominees for the monthly awards from July 2023-June 2024 in both Open and Junior categories.   The Overall Junior and Open winners were announced – decided by votes from the Gippstar Panel.

MC Judi Buhagiar spoke with nominees in an interview style, about their further achievements since winning the award.

Daniel Barry from Traralgon emerged as the champion of the Annual Open Award, celebrated for his exceptional talent in Triathlon.   Daniel competed in the 2024 Ironman New Zealand where he was crowned Overall Age Group Champion & also in the 2024 Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie where he became the back-to-back Overall Age Group Champion.   Daneil has qualified for 2024 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii (October) and the 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, NZ (December) and is undefeated in all Triathlon events in 2024.

The recipient of this year’s Annual Junior Award is Ashley Nicholes from Traralgon, recognised for his achievements in swimming.   Ash is currently in the GSA Swimming Performance Program and won the David Drane Encouragement Award in 2022, the Tim Forsyth Excellence in Sport Award in 2023, and also received a monthly Gippstar Award in 2023.   At the Gippsland Swimming Championships, Ash won 13 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze. He also won the Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet.   Event records were swam in 50m Breast, 50 Free and 200 Ind. Medley.   At the Swimming Victoria Long Course State Championships, Ash won: Two Golds in 50m and 100m Freestyle 16 years of age boys; One Silver in 200 Freestyle and One Bronze in 100 Breaststroke.   At the Swimming Victoria Age Short Course State Championships, Ash won 1 Victorian record; 3 Gold Medals in 50m Free, 100 Ind Medley, 100m Free; 2 Silver Medals 100 Breast and 200 Free; 1 Bronze 100m Back.  Ash went on later in the month to swim at Swimming Australia Open Short Course Nationals where he finished 4th and 8th in age finals (14-18 years) in the 100 breast and 100 free.   He also won the Out of Gippsland Swimming Performance Award for the season – For the Victorian All Comers Record in the 16 years 50 Freestyle at the Victorian Short Course Swimming Championships in September.  Ash has since gone on to compete in the Swimming Victoria LC Countries where he won 3 gold, 5 silver & 1 bronze and the Bruce Carter trophy for 14 years and over best individual performance.  In September he broke the Swim Vic Allcomers record in the 50m freestyle short course 16 yr old boys from 2009 by swimming a 22.68 seconds at SC state age champs.  That’s the fastest time ever swam in Victoria in that event at that age. Ash went on to Nationals on the Gold Coast in April and became unwell but still went on to make the B final in the 17 yr old – 100 breast; 50 Breast; 50 free.   He made the A final in the 100m freestyle on the last day.

Each year Gippstar has four additional awards.

  • Gippstar Team of the Year: Given to a Gippsland Team based on their performance over the Gippstar year.    This year we had 6 finalists:
  • Nilma Darnum U16 Football Team
  • Sale United Football Club Womens Team
  • Traralgon Basketball T’Birds U12 Boys Squad
  • Maffra Basketball Eagles U14 Boys Squad
  • Traralgon Basketball T’Birds U18 Girls Squad
  • Yarram & District Cricket Club 1st Xl

The winner is the Maffra Eagles u14 Boys Team.   The Maffra Under 14 Boys won the 2024 Basketball Victoria Junior Country Championships in Mildura in April 2024. These boys came up against towns such as Bendigo, Warrnambool, Pakenham & Mildura amongst others during the championships and despite the difference in population, the Maffra boys came out victorious. They won their second state title (after winning in Under 12’s in 2022) with a 49-43 victory over Mildura. Due to winning the Country Championships, the boys have been invited to the National Junior Classic held in Melbourne over King’s birthday weekend and have been invited to the Basketball Australia Under 14 National Club Championships held in Casey in September 2024 which pits the best 24 teams across the country against each other.

  • Gippstar Club of the Year: Given to a Gippsland club based on their club achievements over the Gippstar year.   The 4 finalists are:
  • Churchill United Soccer Club
  • Phillip Island Boardriders Club
  • Sale United Football Club
  • Wellington Hockey Club

This was awarded to Sale United Football Club.   Sale United Football Club is now in its 50th year.   They a multicultural community that has excelled on many levels this past twelve months, achieving Football Australia’s one-star club status for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for women and girls in all aspects of the game. The Club has many achievements:

  • Women’s team 2023 League Championship Title (first time in history); and winner of 2023 League Cup(back-to-back titles)
  • Men’s 2nd Division team made the 2023 Cup Grand Final for the first time in twelve years
  • The U11s and U13s won the League Championship as well as the Cup Grand Finals
  • Two junior teams in the U11s and U13s were also League Runner-ups
  • Six teams at the club making Grand Finals
  • 22 members selected to represent the Latrobe Valley Soccer League at the 2024 Victorian Junior
  • Country Championships and players progress in the trials for State teams
  • 3 highly accredited coaches achieved their B & C Licences
  • Players were honoured at the 2023 LVSL Awards night with Anouk Meereboer winning the Women’sBest Player & Golden Boot awards; Luke Wilson won the 2nd Division Best Player & Golden Boot awards; Madelaine Breakspear won the Coach of the Year & the Players Player trophy, came Runner-up in the Best Player and won Best on ground in the final. She also won the 2024 Football Victoria Female Football Week Coach of The Year
  • The Club’s facilities are constantly being upgraded and maintained so that the growth of the club cancontinue – registrations have increased by an average of 25%
  • With 17 junior & 5 adult teams that compete in the LVSL and an array of social programs on offer for thewider community the Club has a commitment to provide programs for anyone to participate in whether new or wanting a challenge. One such program is the Primary School Twilight tournament for kids 5-12 years in the Wellington Shire. 2023 was the 30th anniversary of this tournament with 67 teams entered (highest ever), up from 52 in 2022. This tournament was announced as a top 4 finalist in the VicSport Awards for the Community Event of The Year
  • Skilled volunteers also run 7v7s, 5v5s, Mini-Roos, GO Girls and GO Mums social programs (aged 5 yearsthrough to 65 years), creating a sustainable future of the sport in our region
  • The Club thrives on good governance and follow all guidelines and rules to ensure the club is efficientand can grow and has progressed in a positive way
  • The Club has won Football Victoria’s 2023 Regional Club of the Year and are currently a top 4 Finalist forVicSport Club of the Year
  • SUFC continue their endeavour of making football accessible for all Australian

 

  • Gippstar Special Achiever Award: Provided for outstanding service to sport over a significant period of years.   This year there were two recipients of the Special Achiever Award.

Barry Lawrence of Morwell, Umpire Coach, Latrobe Valley Umpires Association and Del Ahern of Sale, Volunteer, Wellington Hockey Club.

Barry celebrated a significant milestone by umpiring his 900th game on 25th May 2024. In addition to this impressive achievement, he has also been serving as the Senior Boundary Umpiring Coach for the Latrobe Valley Umpires Association for the past 15 years, (2024, 2005-2011, 2002- 2003, 2000, 1997-1998, 1992-1994), demonstrating his dedication and expertise in the field. Throughout his 36 years of service, Barry has held various roles, including Director of Umpiring for three years, and has been a committee and/or executive member for 17 years. His outstanding contributions have been recognized with five appointments to the highest panel and the naming of an award for boundary umpiring in his honour.

Del is a member of the Wellington Hockey Club, where she actively participates in all things Wellington! Del consistently contributes to the Club and is dedicated to help improve players skills on the field by encouraging great teamwork, leading by example. Del enjoys being a part of the club and values the camaraderie and sportsmanship that comes with being a member. Del is always available to provide support to coaching staff, players, and team managers, while also putting in a lot of effort behind the scenes with the club president and administration. She possesses a deep understanding of all the different facets of the club’s operations and makes sure to attend all training sessions and games during the season. Del is capable of filling in any role whenever there is a gap or someone is unable to fulfill their responsibilities, playing a crucial part in ensuring that club events run smoothly. Del is known for her amiable nature and willingness to assist others. Her warm and approachable demeanour makes her a reliable source of support for everyone.

  • Gippstar Gippsland Champion:   To receive this award the athlete must have commenced their sporting career with a Gippsland Club and/or Association and continued to achieve in their sport outside of the Gippsland area, whilst maintaining family connections in Gippsland.

This was awarded to Emily Beecroft from Traralgon for her sport Para – Swimming.

Emily is an Australian Paralympic swimmer. She was born deaf in her left ear and with a right arm limb deficiency. Emily played netball and participated in athletics, but eventually decided to concentrate on swimming. In 2010, she competed won ten medals at the School Sports Championships, and was awarded the Sportsmanship Award in 2012. Competing for the Traralgon Swimming Club, she swam a personal best time to take the bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke multi-class event at the National Open Championships in May 2013.  From 2014-2020, Emily was a part of the GSA Swimming Program winning the Tim Forsyth Excellence in Sport Award in 2014 & 2015, and the 2016 GSA Rising Star Award.   Emily has also won monthly Gippstar Awards – Jnr in 2015 & Open in 2016 and taking out the Overall Award in both categories in those years.   In 2020, she studied part-time media and communications at La Trobe University.   She moved to the Queensland Sunshine Coast and in 2022 was studying a Bachelor of Communications at the University of the Sunshine Coast.   Emily has since gone on to achieve Para-Olympic Selection – Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 and Para-Commonwealth Games – Gold Coast 2018 & 2022 Birmingham, England.   She won a silver and bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.   She is currently enroute to Paris to begin her 2024 Paralympic campaign.   Unfortunately, Emily couldn’t attend the awards evening due to her Paralympic Games preparation, but her proud parents Lauren & Gary accepted the Award on her behalf and Emily sent a video message of thanks which can be viewed on our recording of the evening: https://www.youtube.com/live/DPffsUFo0dw

Congratulations to all the award recipients.

July and August nominations for Gippstar are now open and will close on the 2nd September 2024.   If you would like to recognise the sporting achievements of a Gippsland athlete, coach, administrator or official (amateur of professional), nomination forms can be downloaded from Gippsland Sports Academy webpage: https://www.sportgippsland.org.au/gippstar-award-nomination-forms/