Volleyball Australia has honored its top players of the past year with its Annual Awards, including three new “life members” all centered in beach volleyball: Blair Harrison, Kerri Pottharst and Nat Cook.
Harrison was a key figure in beach volleyball’s rise in the country from an organizational standpoint, while Pottharst and Cook were both Olympic gold medalists in the sport in 2000. The three were named life members in one of the most prestigious awards of the banquet.
You can see the full list of award winners below.
The full Volleyball Australia press release is below:
At the recent Annual Awards Night at the Sydney Boulevard Hotel, Volleyball Australia took time to recognised the outstanding contributions from those individuals and groups for their dedication and services to Volleyball over the past 18 months.
Amongst the awards winners was the inclusion of three new life members with Blair Harrison, a pioneer of Beach Volleyball in Australia, and Olympians Kerri Pottharst and Nat Cook all being bestowed the coveted award.
The inclusion of several new categories saw the ability to recognise our members at a state and local level, as well as a national or international level. Volleyball Australia also included the 4 new categories of Junior athlete of the Year for both genders in volleyball and beach volleyball. But the highlight of the awards list was the inclusion of the Volleyball Inspiration Award, this year awarded to Chris McHugh, who amongst his long commitment as a player to beach volleyball, in one instance, at the recent Volleyfest event in Manly, took the time to engage with about 30 kids on the volleyball court, late one night after all the competition was done.
Volleyball Australia would like to congratulate all the Awards winners from the evenings events. A full list of award winners is listed below.
Volleyball Australia Annual Award Winners
Volunteer of the Year – Local/State – Nick Wells (WA)
Volunteer of the Year – National – Jonathon Fogarty
Walter Lebedew Administrator of the Year – State – Helen Shields (WA)
Walter Lebedew Administrator of the Year – National – Giorgio Poetto
Joe Hiller Coach of the Year – National – Shannon Winzer (VIC)
Joe Hiller Coach of the Year -International – Lauren Soderberg
Bob Foot Referee of the Year – National – Irene Alonso-Chartier (WA)
Bob Foot Referee of the Year – International – Stephen Giugni
Outstanding Volleyball Event – National/International – 2016 AVC Continental Cup (QLD)
State Association of the Year – State Volleyball NSW
University of the Year – Melbourne University (VIC)
Best media Coverage – Kerri Pottharst
Volleyball Inspiration Award – Chris McHugh (SA)
Most outstanding player junior indoor (women) – Kylee White (QLD)
Most outstanding player junior indoor (men) – James Takken (QLD)
Most outstanding player junior beach (women) – Rebecca Ingram (VIC)
Most outstanding player junior beach (men) – Paul Burnett (WA) and Marcus Ferguson (QLD)
Most outstanding player senior indoor (women) – Beth Carey (SA)
Most outstanding player senior indoor (men) – Luke Perry (WA) and Paul Carroll (NSW)
Most outstanding player senior beach (women) – Taliqua Clancy (QLD) and Louise Grice (VIC)
Most outstanding player senior beach (men) – Chris McHugh (SA) and Damien Schumann (VIC)
Life Members – Blair Harrison – Nat Cook – Kerri Pottharst
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