Gippstar Awards
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:28): It was a pleasure to attend the 63rd Gippstar annual awards the other night, hosted by Gippsland Sports Academy and sponsored by the six Gippsland councils. I would just like to congratulate a raft of wonderful people. The junior champion of the year is Lucas Furlan for clay target shooting, and the open champion of the year is Paige Barr for rowing. The Gippstar champions award went to Aoife Coughlin for judo. The team of the year is the United Football Club in Sale, the women’s team. The special achiever of the year is Lesa Fraser from Mirboo North tennis club. Joint winners for team of the year are the all-abilities netball team, accepted by Lauren Baudinette, and the Sale United Football Club women’s team, whose coach Madelaine Breakspear is an absolutely fantastic woman. Club of the year is the Morwell Falcons, accepted by Tony Salvatore. One of my favourites, the show jumping junior award, was accepted by Ava Harrington, and the clay target shooting awards went to Kira Waldron, Jack Bateson, Chelsea Beechey and Alicia McGrath. Others were swimming juniors Molly Cargill and Ash Nicholes; surf lifesaving, Zali Gallagher and also Jessica Jackson; athletics, Lachlan Rosato; Rhys Pollerd for archery; cross country, Maddie Buhagiar; rowing, Alex Vuillermin; and hockey, Connor Johnston. And there are many more. I congratulate them all. Well done, and go Gippslanders!