10 October 2022 | Tennis Victoria
The Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards are a celebration of the achievements of sportspeople with disability, the coaches, organisations, officials and volunteers who support them and the inclusive sport and recreation sector across Victoria.
With Disability Sport and Recreation (DSR) celebrating their 60th birthday this year, the 2022 Awards are more than ever an opportunity to discover unsung heroes and rising stars and celebrate what’s truly great about accessible and inclusive sport.
Disability Sport and Recreation Programs and Events Manager Marshall James was delighted to see a record number of nominations for this year’s event.
“We received an overwhelming number of quality nominations this year, making it very difficult for our judges to select finalists across each category,” Marshall said.
“DSR looks forward to coming together in celebration of our worthy finalists and their significant achievements throughout the year”.
Entrants in the Awards are nominated by state sporting associations, regional sport assemblies, local government, individuals, teammates, club members, coaches or their local community in recognition of their outstanding contribution to inclusive sport and recreation.
The Victorian nominees are:
- Heath Davidson (Wheelchair tennis) – Elite Sportsperson of the Year
- Robert Fletcher (Blind tennis) – Community Sportsperson of the Year
- Saalim Naser (Wheelchair tennis) – Junior Sportsperson of the Year
- Adam Fayad (Blind tennis) – Masters Sportsperson of the Year
- Phoebe David (Blind tennis) – Masters Sportsperson of the Year
- Ross Patterson (Blind tennis) – Masters Sportsperson of the Year
- Australian Junior Wheelchair World Cup Team – Team of the Year
The Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards have previously celebrated elite level Paralympians including Dylan Alcott OAM, Paralympics Gold Medal winner, Olympic Gold Medal winner and winner of 15 grand slam singles title in wheelchair tennis and Dr Jessica Gallagher, who went on to become the 2018 Commonwealth Games Sports Ambassador for Cycling.
The Awards have recognised the dedication and commitment to the sector by many individuals including Victorian Spirit of Tennis recipient Maurice Gleeson, who has worked tirelessly for the blind and vision impaired community for over 40 years and Greg Crump, whose contribution to wheelchair tennis both here and abroad stretches over 30 years.
Congratulations to all our nominees, the winners will be announced at the ceremony on Tuesday 8 November.
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