On Wednesday 3 December, volunteers from across the University of Melbourne's sporting community gathered to celebrate the achievements of sporting clubs and recognise the significant contributions of volunteers at the annual Sport and Volunteers Celebration.
Across programs and sporting advisory groups at the University, we rely on the contributions of 1,100 volunteers each year, of whom over 600 are current students. Our volunteers include committee members, coaches, and others from our 49 sporting clubs, as well as advisory group and scholarship committee members, intervarsity team managers, and College Sport representatives, among others.
The act of volunteering implies not receiving anything in return. Still, volunteers are the cornerstone of every sporting community. Without them, students, alumni, and members of the general public would miss out on the opportunity to play sports and be part of the community. Therefore, it would be remiss not to recognise and shed light on the value of their contribution.
This year, volunteers were awarded for their innovation, inclusion, service, and success. Nominated by their peers and endorsed by the Clubs Advisory Group and the Annual Awards Group, the awards on the night were presented by General Manager Jo Massoud, Distinguished Service Award recipient Michael Owen, and Sport Development Manager Rod Warnecke.
Service Awards
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Connor became Vice President of the Wushu Kung Fu Club in 2020 and assumed the Presidency in 2021, a position he still holds today. As new members joined following the Pandemic, Connor patiently taught them wushu skills and encouraged their participation in performances and club activities, helping them build not only technical ability but also confidence and a strong sense of belonging.
Connor has been pivotal in ensuring that the club engages at the University and other local cultural events each year, and that the club is a welcoming space for new participants.
Julie has been the Melbourne University Kendo Club’s Vice President for the last three years. She has assisted with coaching at Uni Nationals, judging duties at local and national championships, organising multiple club events, and has been the catalyst in establishing training sessions for high-grade women's kendo.
Summer is a Touch Football Club Referee and recently took on the role of Head of Referee Program within the Club. Summer was pivotal in developing the club’s referee program, running courses to accredit club members to become referees. Summer’s positive and humble, and she bleeds integrity, perfect for a referee.
Owen is currently the Touch Football Club’s Vice President and has been a leader of the club’s University sport and intervarsity program over the last three years. Owen consistently embodies the cultural standards expected at the club and has been active in his first year as VP in implementing best practices for the Club.
Club Awards
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The Golf Club ran weekly off-campus driving range and 9-Hole sessions, and established a new Beginner Golf Program in partnership with Melbourne Golf Park to subsidise beginner lessons and reduce barriers to entry
They collaborated with the General Practice Student Network for a joint golf social event and joined the G-Life Golf Club, a high-technology simulator golf, increasing participation and accessibility while providing a modern member experience. The Club also held ‘The MUGC Members Classic’ at Mornington Golf Club in September.
All these initiatives saw membership increase beyond 250, with a student percentage of 90%.
Nathan, from the Melbourne University Kendo Club, won gold in the Kyu Men’s Individual at the Victorian Kendo Championships in October. Nathan also helped the Men’s Team win a silver medal in the team competition at the same championships.
Kaitlyn Common coached the Smoke Cheer team as part of the Cheer and Dance Club. With a large number of newcomers to the sport at the start of the year, Caitlin’s coaching helped develop their skills throughout the year, with every training and competition showcasing improvement.
At the AASCF Winterfest, State Championships, and Classic competitions, the squad claimed two 1st place finishes and one 2nd place finish.
The Melbourne University Lightning 23&U team finished second on the ladder with an impressive 15 wins
and 3 losses in the regular season. Entering finals as underdogs against Blaze, the benchmark team all year, they fell short in the first final but earned a second chance. The team bounced back with a strong win over City West Falcons to earn a rematch with Blaze for a grand final spot.
This time, they produced their best netball of the season, turning an 11-goal loss into an 18-goal victory.
The grand final was a tense, high-quality contest, but Lightning showed composure beyond their years to secure a 54–42 victory. Every player took the court in a proud and defining moment for the club as Lightning claimed its first-ever 23&U VNL premiership.
Awards of Excellence - Innovation
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Last year, the Baseball Club began planning for its Centenary with a committee comprising past presidents, committee members, and Club alumni.
They delivered a Heritage Match in April and a Gala Event at the Melbourne Zoo in August to celebrate the milestone. At the Gala, they launched a documentary of the Club, and they also had a news article in the Age. They developed an archive of historical photos in conjunction with the University Archives.
The Club identified a gap in Touch Football in Victoria. It established the Clyde Cup, a social competition aligned to University teaching periods that provides more opportunities for students to participate in the sport. The initiative saw an increase in participation and added an additional income stream to support future Club growth.
Junquan has led a variety of tech initiatives for the Triathlon Club, including developing the Club’s website, filming and photography, and creating a new payment system. However, his Innovation award stems from a simple idea: counting swimming laps.
Junquan developed an App to make tracking results quickly and accurately during the club’s mini triathlon events. The innovation has been a real game-changer, leading to a more professional experience for competitors.
Award of Excellence - Inclusion
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Awarded to Yu Luo, Georgia Martin and Shimiao Huang, all from the Melbourne University Triathlon Club.
Yu has been recognised for his work in developing an inclusive running program for students of all abilities, Georgia, for her leadership of the club’s international committee and developing engagement opportunities for international students, and Shimiao, for developing targeted communications and relationships with students from 15 different countries.
All three have been an incredible support to Club President Leo and the rest of the committee in delivering an inclusive culture at the Triathlon Club.