We were privileged to celebrate many of the amazing volunteers and officials within our community at our fourth annual City of Charles Sturt Sports Awards held at Woodville Town Hall.
This year we received 37 nominations across the 4 key award categories from 23 separate sporting clubs representing 13 different sporting codes including – Australian Rules Football, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Cycle Speedway, Hockey, Lacrosse, Pickleball, Rugby Union, Soccer, Sailing, Surf Life Saving and Tennis highlighting a diverse range of sport and recreation activities across the City.
The event was hosted by 7 News presenter Mike Smithson and supported by our generous sponsors Active Inclusion, The Adelaide 36ers, West Beach Parks, Westfield West Lakes and prize partners Bike SA, The Adaptability Movement, Club Ducks and Here for the Game.
Congratulations to all nominees, finalists and the winners as profiled below.
West Beach Parks - Coach or Official of the Year
Tammy Clarke – Findon Skid Kids
Tammy has been invaluable as secretary of Findon Skid Kids and head coach of the Australian Cycle Speedway team, guiding the club through the challenges of COVID and the passing of her father and club founder, Mick Harley in 2020.
Tammy implemented training guidelines, an international online registration, licensing, and scoring system, and coordinated the 2023 Cycle Speedway World Championships held in Adelaide late last year. This involved negotiating with the International Federation to invite riders to stay in her own home at no cost, weekly overseas phone calls at 3am and countless hours of work organising riders, families and spectators.
Tammy also coached and led the Australian Women’s team to an historic victory, winning the Federation Cup, Women’s World Cup, and the Great Britain vs Australia Test Match Series for the very first time.
Westfield West Lakes - Administrator of the Year
Martin Grace - Grange Surf Life Saving Club
Martin has been a passionate and long-serving member of the Grange Surf Life Saving Club for the past 37 years.
As well as being a volunteer surf life saver with over 1000 patrol hours, Martin has reviewed and improved the club’s financial health, including overseeing the Point-of-Sale system, introducing a stock management feature with detailed financial reports and other financial efficiencies.
Martin spent considerable time upgrading the club’s website and online presence, donating external signage and numerous other items including a bar fringe, food trolley, and volunteer bar staff badges. Martin often puts his own small businesses to the side to help with the club’s financial administration and even repaired the club’s AV system. He is a true asset to the club.
Adelaide 36ers - Club/Association of the Year
Flinders Park Football Club
The past 12 months have arguably been the most remarkable in the Flinders Park Football Club’s 97-year history.
The club boasts more than 650 financial members across football, netball and cricket, fielding 5 senior football teams (3 men’s and 2 women’s) 15 junior football teams (5 boys, 2 girls, 8 mixed) plus Auskick with over 300 children participating. The club is also home to 7 senior netball teams in summer, another 5 teams in winter, 6 junior netball teams, 3 senior cricket teams and 8 junior cricket teams.
Flinders Park celebrated a breakthrough A grade football premiership last year. The club also won premierships in both winter and summer netball for their senior women, under 15 boys football and under 17 boys cricket.
Active Inclusion – Champion Award
Kate Newman - Semaphore Surf Life Saving Club
Kate has worked tirelessly to improve inclusion at Semaphore Surf Life Saving Club and established the Semaphore Seabirds - an additional needs Nippers program for children living with disability.
Kate won Federal grant finding to purchase beach matting and the first of 4 accessible beach wheelchairs while partnering with Council to have an accessible beach ramp built at Port Malcolm Reserve. She was recognised with a Westfield Local Heroes award and devoted the funds towards a Mobile Hoist for wheelchair users, and similarly committed $10,000 from a Commonwealth Bank award to purchase a trailer to transport wheelchairs.
Kate is now helping other Surf Life Saving Clubs set up Nippers programs for children with additional needs, taking the Seabirds concept statewide and continuing to campaign for accessible beaches for all.
Mayor’s Award – Lifelong Contribution to Sport in the City of Charles Sturt
Warren Carey – Henley Sailing Club
Born and raised in West Beach, Warren first joined the Henley Sailing Club committee in the late 1960s and has served across many roles.
He has been a dedicated club member for more than 55 years, continuing to undertake weekly rescue boat and race officer roles, state heat racing, bar duties, club room repairs and operations, as well as annual maintenance of the club’s safety boats. Warren also sits on the general committee imparting his valued experience and knowledge to other club members.
Warren was proudly awarded life membership of Henley Sailing Club in 1996 with his efforts recently acknowledged by the International Mirror Class Association of Australia at their 55th National Titles held at Henley Sailing Club.
Westfield West Lakes - Sports Volunteer of the Year
Tammy Clarke - Findon Skid Kids
The judging panel congratulates Tammy for her outstanding effort in successfully steering the Findon Skid Kids through the challenges of the past few years, as well as the array of other achievements she has led in our community.
Tammy is a deserving recipient of the Westfield West Lakes - Sports Volunteer of the Year award.