16/02/23: Community sport champions celebrated
Australia’s best community sporting clubs and volunteers were celebrated at the Good Sports Awards at Parliament House, Canberra, for going above and beyond in making their clubs healthy and inclusive.
The community sport champions were recognised at the ceremony on Thursday (16th February), for their work with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program in tackling topics like alcohol, illicit drugs, smoking, mental health and safe transport.
Receiving the top gong was Tasmania’s Woodbridge Cricket Club, which was crowned the 2022 Good Sports National Club of the Year. It was recognised for adopting practices and strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of its members, inspiring positive change and building a healthier, and more family-friendly club environment.
Committee Member and Life Member, Steve Jackson said that before joining Good Sports, Woodbridge Cricket Club had a reputation of poor alcohol and smoking management, leading at times to poor behaviour, poor sportsmanship and lack of community engagement.
Now having reached the highest level of the Good Sports program, the club has introduced a range of initiatives to help build a healthier club, such as designated smoke-free areas, healthier food, encouraging safe transport to and from events, and making a variety of non and low alcoholic and healthier drinks available at the bar.
"The club has changed from one which was viewed by locals and other teams as almost a lost cause, to becoming one which takes pride in its family-friendly atmosphere and respect for fellow players, other teams and the spirit of cricket,” Mr Jackson explained.
The club now also prides itself on its strong focus on encouraging junior participation and mentoring younger players.
“It’s a big thing for a small, regional club to win such an award. It recognises the significant improvements that the club has made in becoming a family-friendly club,” Mr Jackson said.
Working with more than 10,000 community sports clubs, Good Sports is Australia’s largest community health sports program. It’s managed by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and federally funded by the Australian Government.
Australian Health Minister, the Hon Mark Butler MP, applauded the Good Sports Awards finalists, calling them community leaders.
“Each finalist should be proud of their work in helping to make their local sports clubs the very best they can be. By adopting healthy practices and policies, Good Sports clubs are leaders in their communities,” Minister Butler said.
“Local sports clubs are far more than places where people gather to enjoy sport. They play an important role in modelling healthy behaviours, both on and off the field,” he added.
Australian Sports Minister, The Hon Anika Wells MP, commended the awards recipients.
“Your dedication to providing positive, inclusive and healthy places for locals to play sport, is inspiring,” Minister Wells said.
“Sport is part of Australia’s DNA and our local sporting clubs are the heart and soul of our communities. Sport offers so many benefits, including boosting people’s confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and general health,” she said.
Alcohol and Drug Foundation CEO, Dr Erin Lalor AM, said Good Sports is helping to build a healthier sporting nation.
“Good Sports supports local sporting clubs to identify and reduce potential risks around alcohol and other drugs, as well as other important issues such as mental health and road safety,” Dr Lalor said.
“The Good Sports Awards, which have been running for more than a decade, are the ultimate trophy for any Good Sports club. They shine the spotlight on success, celebrate the volunteers who are the backbone of Good Sports clubs and give winning clubs the recognition they deserve.”
For more information about Good Sports and the Good Sports Awards visit: www.Goodsports.com.au Please find below the full list of the award finalists.
ENDS
For interviews and media enquiries, please call the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s media team on 0430 948 380 or email media@adf.org.au
The 2022 national Good Sports Awards finalists are:
National Good Sports Club of the Year – Winner: Woodbridge Cricket Club (Tasmania)/Runner-up: Spiders Boxing Club Inc (Queensland)
Community Club Award – Winner: Junee Taekwondo – SEAT (NSW)/Runner-up: Goodwood Saints Football Club (South Australia)
Junior Club of the Year – Winner: Geelong Junior Marlins Water Polo Club (Victoria)/Runner-up: Beverley Hills Junior Football Club (Victoria)
Mental Health Excellence Award - Winner: Tasmania University Football Club/Runner up: Sandhurst Football Netball Club (Victoria)
New Club of the Year – Winner: Kofukan Karate Australia Inc (Western Australia)/Runner-up: Fraser Coast Swimming Club (Queensland)
Safe Transport Award – Winner: Forest Rangers Football Club (New South Wales)/Runner-up: Natimuk United Football Club (Victoria)
Volunteer of the Year – National Winner: Tammie Tugwell from Angas Go Kart Club (South Australia)/National Runner-up: Niccole Cooper from Esperance Hockey Association (Western Australia)
The 2022 ‘Good Sports Club of the Year’ state/territory award finalists are:
ACT – Winner: Water Wombats/Runner-up: Belconnen Ramblers Basketball Club
NSW – Winner: Manly United Football Club/Runner-up: Careel Bay Tennis Club
NT – Winner: Pints Netball Club
QLD – Winner: Spiders Boxing Club Inc/Runner-up: Fraser Coast Swimming Club
SA – Winner: Powerblades Dragon Boat Racing Club of SA/Runner up: Tea Tree Gully Athletics Centre
TAS – Winner: Woodbridge Cricket Club/Runner-up: Dominoes Basketball Club
VIC – Winner: Melton Rugby Union Football Club/Runner-up: Melbourne University Women's Football Club
WA – Winner: Warwick Greenwood Cricket Club/Runner-up: Collie Underwater Hockey Club
The 2022 state Good Sports Volunteer of the Year award finalists are:
ACT – Winner: Bruce Rossel from Western Districts Football Club/Runner-up: Carol Jennings from Water Wombats
NSW – Winner: Michael Koellner from Ballina Seagulls Rugby League Football Club/Runner-up: Dean Malcolm from Tuross Head Tennis Club
NT – Winner: Kellie Moir from Pints Netball Club
QLD – Winner: Vic Pascoe from Ipswich & District Athletics Club/Runner-up: Kylie Burford from Spiders Boxing Club
SA – Winner: Tammie Tugwell from Angas Go Kart Club/Runner-up: Amber Valentine-Proffit from Aldinga Netball Club
TAS – Winner: Kylee Chivers from Tasmania University Football Club/Runner-up: Michael Claxton from Westbury Cricket Club
VIC – Winner: Terri O'Reilly from Melbourne Uni Women's Football Club/Runner-up: Les Miller from Reservoir Cobras Cricket Club
WA - Niccole Cooper from Esperance Hockey Association/Runner-up: Lisa Huggins from Riverton Calisthenics Club