While the University of Newcastle’s annual Sports Awards shine a spotlight on the achievements of sporting’s best, this year’s awards paid attention to women within sport, not only on the field but behind the scenes as well.
The 2019 Sports Awards featured a Q&A style discussion with former Matilda’s Captain, Kathryn Gill and MC for the evening, Gerry Collings alongside NUsport acting CEO, Roxana Olivares, who spoke about the immense diversity of roles that the university’s sport and recreation arm of NUsport fills for the thousands of students of the University.
Roxana said the NUsport team focus on ensuring the interests of staff, students and the wider public are met when it comes to local sport and recreation.
“Our team of about 150 people exists to look after the interests of elite sports people by helping them manage their sporting and student lives right through to organising sporting competitions and providing opportunities for students, staff and the wider public to participate in sport and recreation at all levels,” she said.
Roxana also spoke about the challenges faced by sporting bodies to continue to evolve while acknowledging that it must run like a business while still being relevant and accessible.
Kathryn Gill explained how important it is for women to be involved in all aspects of sport, the business side especially. Equal parity for women was also a hot topic throughout the discussion.
“Women’s sport has gone through a watershed moment and people are starting to embrace it. There has been an awakening and appreciation for it, she said.”
Roxana Olivares said that each of the panellists and Gerry Collins provided great insight to the business of sport and the role it needed to play in Australia now and into the future.
On the night, surf lifesaver Jemma Smith, was named winner of the Sports Person of the Year by the University of Newcastle.
The Sports Club of the Year was awarded to the Tennis Club for its attainment of high standards in sports administration and the Team of the Year was awarded to the Women’s Netball team for its outstanding result in 2018.
For making an outstanding contribution to the administration and organisation of University sport, University Colours were awarded to Simon Clulow (university sport) and Samuel Stephens (tennis).
Julie Barton (water polo), Jessica Potts (touch football), Rohan Toole (squash) and Angela Williams (netball) joined more than 241 of Australia’s greatest athletes, academics and business people when they were awarded the prestigious University Blue for demonstrating outstanding sporting ability when representing the University of Newcastle.
The University and friends of the University presented eight sport scholarships to students with demonstrated potential currently balancing their academic and sporting pursuits.
The ‘Col Whitehead Cricket Scholarship’ was awarded to James Rushford.
Three people who contributed enormously to University Sport were inducted as Honorary Life Members.
Solicitor Tim Osborn, University Senior Manager Gail White and former NUsport Chair Michael Johns, joined twenty-three others who have worked to ensure that sport is an integral part of University life.
IMAGE | Chancellor Paul Jeans, Jemma Smith (Sports Person of The Year) and Kyle Middleton (left-right)
