Brendon Smith from  Nunawading Swimming Club

The past year has been an incredibly busy and successful one for Brendon. As well as winning 23 Victorian medals in the over age and open championships, Brendon won a gold medal for the Australian Swim team at the USA Open Swimming Championships and bronze medal at the 2019 World University Games in Italy.

He was awarded 2018 Victorian Junior Lifesaver of the Year and represented Australia at the 2018 World Lifesaving Championships where he broke two world junior records. Brendon is described by his club as a humble, extremely hardworking and determined young man. He often gives talks at primary schools to encourage children to participate in sports and emphasises the importance of enjoying your chosen sports.

_{Image: Brendon Smith with Bianca Chatfield and Cr Raylene Carr.}

Box Hill United Soccer Club Under 14 National Premier League

This young team has already scaled the heights of international soccer by becoming the first ever Australian team to the make the finals in the 2019 Gothia Cup. 

Playing in the world’s largest international youth soccer tournament and competing against more than 65 countries, the Box Hill United Soccer Club Under 14 Team were runners-up in a close final played in China.

The team is currently sitting second in the National Premier League and team members have shown dedication, support for each other and respect for their coaches.

_{Image: Guest speaker Bianca Chatfield with Peter and Blake from Box Hill United Soccer Club and Cr Andrew Davenport}

Antonio Park Primary School

Over the past few years, Antonio Park Primary School has revamped its physical education and sports program and now leads the way in the Whitehorse and wider Eastern region.

Some key highlights for the school include being the School Sports Victoria District Competition premiers in tennis and boys cricket, as well as the overall aggregate winners for the Ringwood North District Athletics. The Antonio Park Girls Basketball team were runners up in the Schools Sports Victoria Regional Championship and the Boys T20 Blast Cricket team were School Sports Victoria Division premiers.

The school has also actively developed partnerships with a number of local sports clubs to give its students the best opportunity to participate and increase their skills in a range of sports.

_{Image: Bianca Chatfield with Ben Clark representing Antonio Park Primary School and Professor David Shilbury from Deakin University.}

Britney Gutknecht from Box Hill Senior Secondary College

Britney’s significant achievements make her a role model for younger girls in the AFLW program at Box Hill Senior Secondary College.

She is captain of the Box Hill Senior Secondary College AFLW team and vice-captain of the NAB League Under 18 Northern Knights. Britney was also selected to play in Carlton’s VFLW team, the 2019 AFLW Academy and NAB League 2019 Team of the Year.

Britney has now realised her dream, having recently been drafted to the Western Bulldogs AFLW side for 2020. 

_{Image: Cr Andrew Munroe, Bianca Chatfield, Britney Gutknecht,  and Kate Yeowart from Whitehorse Sports and Recreation Network.}

Ritchie Toomey from Surrey Park Lacrosse Club

As a life member of the Surrey Park Lacrosse Club, Ritchie has given more than 30 years’ service to the lacrosse community.

He has served as club president for the past 10 years, coached the senior men’s team and under 17 team and also refereed games. Ritchie is also actively involved in state level lacrosse and has coached representative Victorian teams.

Ritchie is a strong advocate for lacrosse and increasing the participation of women and children in the club. He was involved in the development of a program that has reached 1000 primary school aged children.

_{Image: Ritchie Tomey with Cr Tina Liu.}

James Dunn and Scott Young from Eastern Gymnastics Men’s Artistic Program

James and Scott are co-coaches of the Men’s Artistic Program at the Eastern Gymnastics Club and are passionate about growing the sport of gymnastics. They are actively involved in challenge days and pre-school programs that encourage children to participate in gymnastics.

As advanced coaches, they are both working towards their Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique coaching qualifications. 

As well as coaching, James and Scott attend university full time and also train and compete for Victoria at the Australian championships.

_{Image: Cr Ben Stennett with James Dunn and Cr Bill Bennett.}

Kimberly Larkin from the Victorian Netball Team for Females with an Intellectual Disability

Recently swapping from basketball to netball, Kim has already been chosen to represent Victoria at the 2019 National Championships for Players with an Intellectual Disability in Brisbane.

She is passionate about encouraging all athletes with a disability to participate in sports and conducts clinics for students and mentors younger players.

Kim also has a national Basketball Australia Award named after her with  the ‘The Kim Larkin Award’ given to the team that best demonstrates fair play  
at National Basketball Championships.

_{Image: Kimberly Larkin with Cr Denise Massoud.}

Ryder Cheesman from Surrey Park Swimming Club

At the age of 12, Ryder has already excelled in three different sports: basketball, swimming and AFL. 

He is a member of the School Sports Victoria basketball and swimming teams and has also won individual medals at the Victorian State Sprints. He was recently awarded the School Sports Victoria Award for basketball and selected to play in the Southern Cross Challenge tournament.

Ryder loves playing in team sports and shows great sportsmanship by always being the first to shake hands with opponents and officials. 

_{Image: Bianca Chatfield with Ryder Cheesman and Cr Prue Cutts.}

Whitehorse Cyclists Inc.

Whitehorse Cyclists Incorporated is a recreational cycling club that began over 20 years ago. They have a membership base of over 300 men and women aged from 50 to 80 years.

The club organise up to 13 rides a week which are tailored to multiple fitness levels with a focus not only on increasing fitness but also on social inclusion. Rides range in distance from 30 kilometres through to 100 kilometres and will often inlcude a coffee or lunch break. 

_{Image: Biance Chatfield, Jennie Ramage and Cr Blair Barker.}