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The 2024 UNSW Sports Awards Gala Dinner, held on a balmy Friday night in the opulent Grand Ballroom of the Royal Randwick Racecourse, was an evening to remember for the entire UNSW sporting community. This year’s event shattered records for both nominations and ticket sales, with over 360 guests gathering to honour UNSW’s outstanding achievements in sport. In an Olympic year that saw 16 UNSW-affiliated athletes compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics & Paralympics, the night celebrated a community whose members excel both on the field and in their fields of study.

The evening began in the Theatre of the Horse, where guests arrived in style under the warm November sun, dressed to impress in elegant suits and dresses. With a racehorse making a surprise appearance for photo opportunities, the tone was set for a night of glamour and excitement. As the crowd moved into the Grand Ballroom, anticipation built for the night’s awards and for who would be crowned Club of the Year.

Among the distinguished guests in attendance were UNSW’s Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Attila Brungs, Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Student Experience Prof. Sarah Maddison, Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Success Leah Hill, UNSW Provost Scientia Prof. Vlado Perkovic, and Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement Prof. Verity Firth AM. Throughout the night, these leaders presented some of UNSW Sport’s most prestigious awards to deserving athletes and clubs. As they took the stage, each celebrated the year’s incredible achievements alongside other VIPs, including Matt Carroll AM, CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee; The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Federal Member for Kingsford Smith; former Australian Women’s Cricket Captain Alex Blackwell; Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT CEO Mick Garnett; UniSport Australia CEO Mark Sinderberry; Karen Jones, CEO of the Office of Sport; Becky Hyde from Medibank; and Stuart Hodge, CEO of Sport NSW. Representatives from Sydney Swans, NSW Waratahs, and filled tables throughout the ballroom, adding to the atmosphere of prestige and camaraderie.

Steph Brantz, our seasoned MC, introduced the night with a thrilling highlights reel of UNSW Sport’s achievements in 2024, setting the tone for an evening of pride and celebration. Following an eloquent Acknowledgement of Country by Nura Gili representative Oliver Pike, Head of Sport & Local Community Mark Wright took the stage to welcome the audience and our plethora of VIP guests for the night. He then went on to address how successful our Village Green Wellness Precinct has been this year, as we had 206,907 student engagements on the VG Precinct in 2023 and in the first nine months of this year, we are already up to 295,412 individual student physical activity engagements. Prof. Brungs, who has called the UNSW Sports Awards “the hottest ticket of the year,” affirmed, “this event celebrates UNSW as not only a world-class place for education and research but as a home for athletes who excel on local, national, and international stages.” His words resonated across the room, underscoring the university’s commitment to fostering athletic talent.

Dr. Anthony Hughes provided another special moment as he unveiled The Badge We Wear, a new book documenting UNSW’s rich sporting history and the enduring impact of sport on campus life. Hughes then introduced Doug Crawford to present the Doug Crawford Sports Recognition Awards, which is awarded for actively supported the nominating club for a minimum period of five (5) years including the year of nomination, either by consistent participation in the club's sporting or recreational activity or by valuable service to the club's organisation and administration. This year we had 9 winners: Ian Thomas (rugby), Greg Stanton (boxing), Jake Edwards (windsurfing, surfing and sailing), Monique Muskens (touch football), Oliver Nichollas (outdoors club), Raymond Lowe (hockey), Sabine Seeto (ultimate frisbee), Shelby Koh (AFL), Steven Hofman (handball). 

This was followed by the much-anticipated first award of the night, with the Academic Excellence Award, which went to fencer Bennett Chan, whose impressive 95 WAM and dedication to his team’s UniSport Nationals success set a high standard for UNSW athletes balancing academic and athletic pursuits.

The Indigenous Sport Award had a special moment as dual winners were announced: Emily Thomson, who has achieved back-to-back wins, and her Indigenous Nationals teammate Jayden Kennedy. Together, they represent a powerful legacy for Indigenous athletes at UNSW. 

Another dual win followed in the College Sport Award category, with Olivia Healey recognized for her contributions to Baxter College and Jack Benias for his dedication to UNSW Hall and his work in cultivating a thriving sports culture.

The Coach of the Year Award honoured Andrew Brundu—known as "Coach Bru"—from the Raiders Gridiron Club, who led his team to an undefeated season, ultimately defeating the ever so dominant University of Sydney in the Waratah Bowl. His influence extends beyond the field, creating a “family culture” within the club. The UNSW ES Bulldogs took home the Pride Award for their strong advocacy for LGBTQI+ rights, not only within the club but also in the larger sporting community, a testament to UNSW’s dedication to inclusivity.

After a break for dinner, the spotlight returned to the stage as UNSW Olympians and Paralympians—Henry Hutchison (Rugby 7s), Jamieson Leeson (Boccia), and Shaun Connor (Skiff Sailing)—shared personal insights into their Paris 2024 experiences. Their stories of their time at UNSW whilst performing at the elite level allowed those in the audience who have Olympics aspirations to get an understanding of what it takes.

Becky Hyde from Medibank followed with a presentation on UNSW’s Beach Ocean Safe Program, a collaboration with UNSW’s health promotions team, which helps international students gain confidence in ocean swimming and, upon completion, join volunteer patrols with Coogee Surf Lifesaving. This led into the Medibank International Student Sport Award, which was presented to Harsha Vardhan, a former Learn to Swim participant who became a certified surf lifesaver and a Health and Wellbeing Ambassador promoting water safety on campus.

The Arc Sport Student Life Award went to UNSW’s Outdoors Club, which, for the second consecutive year, earned recognition for fostering an inclusive environment and organizing enriching experiences like camping and abseiling, many of which are firsts for students, especially international.

The evening continued with some of the night’s biggest awards. Male Student Athlete of the Year was awarded jointly to Luke Keary, Sydney Roosters half-back, and Matt Byrnes, a water polo star and Olympian, while Female Student Athlete of the Year was presented to Paralympian boccia silver medallist Jamieson Leeson and AFLW star Montana Ham from the Sydney Swans. 

The Alex Blackwell Award went to Charlie Stanwix, President of the UNSW Rowing Club, recognized for her trailblazing role as one of the few female rowing club presidents in NSW. Under her leadership, the women’s senior squad achieved historic wins in the Head of the Yarra race and the NSW Grade Championship regatta.

The Sport Initiative of the Year award went to the Rabbitohs Touch Football Club for their Junior Touch Academy, an inclusive program run by senior players and volunteers, promoting skills, fun, and friendship for young players. Mick Garnett from Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT took the stage next to present the Disability in Sport Award. Garnett’s surprise rendition of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” had the whole audience singing along before he presented the award to Jamieson Leeson, capping off her incredible year as a silver medallist at the Paris Paralympics.

The UNSW Badminton team was shocked to realise they had won the UniSport Nationals Award, for their dominating performance in Canberra, where they won all but one point, securing UNSW’s first ever gold medal in badminton.

As the night drew to a close, anticipation for the two final awards—the Team of the Year and Club of the Year—reached a peak. The Women’s Basketball Team won Team of the Year for their impressive performance in their inaugural season in the University Basketball League, where, despite being underdogs, they reached the quarterfinals. Finally, in a moment that had the entire room captivated, the Hockey Club was awarded the prestigious Club of the Year. Their unparalleled season included four men’s premierships (two in Premier League), four women’s premierships, and multiple club championship titles across the Sydney Women’s Metro League and Men’s Premier League and Sydney League divisions. The Hockey Club’s achievements set a new standard for success at UNSW, exemplifying excellence and dedication.

As the awards wrapped up, guests stayed on to mingle and celebrate, reflecting on an unforgettable evening and a landmark year. With immense gratitude to our partners, students, staff, Arc Sport and the 39 clubs that make up our wonderful sporting community, we look forward to an even brighter 2025. Thank you to all who make UNSW the incredible institution it is, and here’s to the future of sport at UNSW! Don't forget our Vice-Chancellor's Blues Awards will be held on Thursday, March 20th, 2025. Nominations will be open until November 30th and can be submitted