RPAYC Vice Commodore Julia Hornsby, Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby and RPAYC Commodore Robert McClelland
The finalists for the NSW Community Sports Awards presented by Bankstown Sports Club, recognising the outstanding individuals, clubs, volunteers and organisations that continue to strengthen community sport across New South Wales have been announced.
The Awards, which celebrate excellence in 12 categories, acknowledge the vital role of volunteers, administrators, officials, coaches, local clubs and councils have in driving participation, fostering healthy enjoyment and promoting future pathways for grassroots sport across the state.
The 2026 NSW Community Sports Awards will be formally presented on Monday, 29 June at Bankstown Sports Club and include a number of locals named as finalists, such as Julia Hornsby in the Inclusion Achievement of the Year for her work to see the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club successfully host the hugely successful Hansa Worlds at RPAYC, one of the world’s premier events embracing sailors with and without disabilities. Julia won Volunteer of the Year at the Australian Sailing Awards for all her work at the RPAYC.
Also named as a finalist is North Narrabeen's Scott Dunbar in the Community Coach of the Year category for his work with local paddling enthusiasts.
Scott ‘The Towman’, of the Sydney Northern Beaches Kayak Club, is revered for his dedication and 'getting it done' without any word or grunt of complaint.
A few years back, in celebrating his volunteerism SNBKC said:
“One of the difficult things about sending a large team to kayaking regattas is getting all the boats there and back, and in one piece.
Scotty is SNBKC’s chief towman. Whether he is towing the trailer to Penrith or to Adelaide, he is always available, he organises the team of towmen and trailer loaders, makes sure the trailers are loaded safely and correctly and always gets the boats to the regatta on time. He will drive through the night on the way to Adelaide and back to so that the kids can race. He even had to remove a fallen tree in the dark one morning after a storm to get the boats out of the Academy for a regatta. Ably assisted by his co-pilots including Alan Fitzgerald and Rob Greuter, we couldn’t paddle without him.”
The tow crew of Scott Dunbar (right), Alan Fitzgerald (left) and Rob Greuter (centre). Image: SNBKC
Also nominated are Cromer Tennis Club in Community Club of the Year, the SLSNSW State Championships 2026, and Hellen McMillan for Community Official of the Year for her efforts in the softball arena.
This year’s finalists represent the dedication, passion and impact that grassroots sport delivers in communities every day — from developing young athletes to creating inclusive sporting environments and supporting lifelong participation.
Sport NSW CEO Stuart Hodge said the calibre of nominations this year highlighted the important role community sport plays across the state.
“The NSW Community Sports Awards are an opportunity to recognise the volunteers, clubs and sporting leaders who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sport accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” said Mr Hodge.
“We congratulate our finalists and thank all entrants for their nominations. The high quality of Awards submissions is proof yet again that community sport in NSW is indeed fortunate to have so many energetic volunteers who selflessly offer their free time to ensure grassroots sports is played from juniors to seniors every week.
“These finalists represent the very best of community sport in New South Wales and the magnitude of this volunteer workforce never ceases to amaze me. Their commitment, leadership and passion continue to inspire and promote participation and create stronger, healthier and more connected communities,” he added.
Alongside celebrating these finalists, Sport NSW will also recognise 26 Distinguished Long Service Honour Recipients including 4 residents of the Manly to Barrenjoey peninsula.
Four Distinguished Long Service Honours
Four residents are among 26 sport volunteers who will be presented with the prestigious Distinguished Long Service Award, following their decades of unflagging and exceptional contribution to sport at a grassroots level, at the 2026 NSW Community Sports Awards presented by Bankstown Sports Club.
The Distinguished Long Service Award recognises individual officials, coaches, administrators, and event organisers who have demonstrated extraordinary unwavering dedication to fostering and advancing sport in their communities for over 25 years.
Local award recipients are long-serving Warringah Golf Club President Scott Campbell from North Manly, Touch Football’s Peter Casey from Frenchs Forest, and the Orienteering husband and wife team of Barbara and Ron Junghans from Duffys Forest.
The Distinguished Long Service Award recipients will be celebrated at the Awards evening held at Bankstown Sports Club on Monday June 29.
The 2026 Distinguished Long Service honourees are:
Name of Nominee Sport Suburb
Angus Bruxner Rugby Union Bellevue Hill
Barbara Junghans Orienteering Duffys Forest
Barry Richardson AFL Sydney
Brian Cheers Amateur Pistol Berkeley Vale
Con Gounis Northern NSW Football Hamilton
Geoff Hook Swimming Camden
Janet Nixon Athletics Beecroft
Jeff Cottrell Paddle Baulkham Hills
Jenny Palmer Bowls Neutral Bay
Joan Hart Hockey Bolwarra
Kerryn Blanch Masters Swimming Bankstown
Laurel Cunico Netball Baulkham Hills
Lauretta Claus Basketball Kellyville
Lesley Pascoe Tennis Mount Annan
Marie Cornish Cricket Wellington
Murray Slana Motorsport Swansea
Peter Casey Touch Frenchs Forest
Peter Worboys Baseball Beverley Park
Raymond "John (Wato)" Watson Surf Life Saving Goonellabah
Ron Junghans Orienteering Duffys Forest
Scott Campbell Golf North Manly
Stephen Handley OAM Rowing Glossodia
Sue Stafa Little Athletics Blacktown
Tish Ennis Sailability Batemans Bay
Tony Barber Gymnastics Chatswood
Trevor Deeming Football Austinmer
Campbell has successfully led WGC through trying and turbulent times where the club’s future was under serious threat. In 2016, the Northern Beaches Council moved to take nine holes and convert them to recreation and non-golf sports fields. After he led a concerted and exhaustive three-year campaign, the newly elected Council reversed the administrator’s decision and agreed to offer WGC a new 20-year lease for 18 holes in 2019.
With certainty over WGC’s 18-hole playing future secured, the Club sold its Clubhouse in 2021 to facilitate the 100 per cent funding and building of a new poker machine free Clubhouse at the Warringah Recreation Centre development. This new clubhouse is scheduled to open in September/October this year.
Scott Campbell
Casey's contribution to the Manly Warringah Touch Association spans more than five decades of selfless and distinguished service. As a founding member of MWTA, he participated in its inaugural competition in 1974 and has played ever since.
Over that time, he has held virtually every position on both the Executive and Management Committees, bringing experience and institutional knowledge to the association through every stage of its growth. His contribution as a participant has been equally remarkable — representing Manly at state and regional level as both a player and coach.
Peter Casey
Barbara and Ron Junghans have been life members of Garingal Orienteers since 2014, jointly received Orienteering NSW’s President’s Award in 2018, and were jointly awarded the Orienteering Australia Silva Award for Services to Orienteering in 2018.
They have consistently been committed to the grassroots support and development of orienteering through their local club, Garingal Orienteers, as well as the wider orienteering community. Barbara’s leadership is evidenced by her long involvement with the club’s organisational side where she has been Club President for many years, as well as undertaking other roles on the Club’s committee.
Barbara and Ron Junghans
Sport NSW Chief Executive, Stuart Hodge, said the recipients were worthy Award winners adding they each have made an extraordinary contribution to their sport and community.
“Sport in NSW relies on people such as these individuals who have generously devoted countless hours of their time, year in and year out, over many decades. Sport in NSW is forever in their debt,” said Mr Hodge.
“It is fitting these Distinguished Long Service Award recipients are recognised and honoured. They have given the opportunity to so many to play sport and allow them to enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits sports participation provides.
“They have been dedicated champions for their sport and have provided a magnificent community legacy for others to aspire to and follow,” added Mr Hodge.
The 2026 NSW Community Sports Awards presented by Bankstown Sports Club, will also see the announcement of the 12 Community Sports Award category winners.
These Awards recognised outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in NSW which is largely carried out by a volunteer workforce.
The categories are Community Official of the Year, Young Official of the Year, Community Coach of the Year, Young Coach of the Year, Community Sports Administrator of the Year, Volunteer Director of the Year, Community Club of the Year, Local Council of the Year, Community Event of the Year, Community Team of the Year, Innovation of the Year and Inclusion Achievement of the Year.
The full list 2026 NSW Community Sports Awards finalists in each category is:
Name of Nominee Sport Suburb
COMMUNITY COACH OF THE YEAR
Geoff Davenport Squash Olympic Park
Hannah Chiang Artistic Swimming Earlwood
Jason Lewis Swimming Millthorpe
Scott Dunbar Paddle North Narrabeen
Scott McCartney Surf Life Saving Tugun
COMMUNITY OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Charlie Cheesley Touch Rockdale
Hellen McMillan Softball Killarney Heights
Jacqueline Devereaux Motorsport Woonona
Jo Ann Lim Artistic Swimming Gordon
Robyn Carr Surf Life Saving Umina Beach
YOUNG COACH OF THE YEAR
Georgie Latanis Little Athletics Lugarno
Hayley Graham Cricket Kings Park
Jessica Hunter Volleyball Woy Woy
Makenzie Mayne Sailing Longueville
Tim Harrison Rugby Union Dubbo
YOUNG OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Bella Brownlie Motorcycling Young
Brandon Lee Baseball East Ryde
Chesney Baillie Gymnastics Shell Cove
Clarissa Burgess Netball Baulkham Hills
Isabella Walshe Football Adamstown Heights
Jessica Galt Artistic Swimming Eastwood
Mimmu Toh Volleyball Artarman
COMMUNITY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Abermain Rams Football Club Football Coffs Harbour
Collaroy Tennis Club Tennis Cromer
Coogee Surf Life Saving Club Surf Life Saving Kingsford
Didjurigur Netball Club Netball Blacktown
Gymea Bay Cricket Club Cricket Gymea Bay
Jets Squash Club Squash Olympic Park
Sydney Emeralds Artistic Swimming Club Artistic Swimming North Sydney
COMMUNITY SPORT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Ange Elliot Artistic Swimming Summer Hill
Caroline Marschner Paddle Oatlands
Jacqueline Ellis Sailing Valentine
Jane Kibble Equestrian Tamworth
Megan Attard Swimming Bingara Gorge
Mick Kilkeary Bowls Old Bar
COMMUNITY TEAM OF THE YEAR
Cudgen Headland U17 Male Taplin Relay Team Surf Life Saving Cudgen Headland
Illawarra Eagles Wheelchair Basketball team Wheelchair Sports Albion Park
NSW Junior U18 Girls Rugby Team Rugby Union Gladesville
NSW Phoenix U15 Girls Beach Volleyball Team Volleyball -
State Of Origin Women's Open Team Touch Tempe
Under 10 Boy's representative team Softball Glenmore Park
Western Zone U15's Female Team Cricket Montefiores
VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Alexandra El-Shamy Hockey Newcastle
Graeme Field Swimming Pennant Hills
Mark Bretag Paddle Raymond Terrace
Sandra Jowett Bowls Miranda
Sharon Wingate Illawarra Academy of Sport Shellharbour
COMMUNITY EVENT OF THE YEAR
Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby - 2026 Rugby Union Coffs Harbour
NSW Touch Football State Cup Touch Tempe
SLSNSW State Championships 2026 Surf Life Saving Belrose
Taree Summer Regatta Rowing Taree
Women's State Carnival Bowls Sydney
INCLUSION ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR
A Splash of Colour Swimming Swimming Newcastle
Basketball NSW Basketball Homebush
Jolly Huynh Duong Archery Canley Vale
Julia Hornsby Sailing Warriewood
Rugby In The Park Rugby Union Daceyville
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
A Splash of Colour Swimming Swimming Newcastle
Baseball NSW - Level C Coach Accreditation Sessions Baseball Rooty Hill
Basketball NSW Basketball Homebush
Lunge Club Bowls Sydney
Volleyball NSW - Winter Beach Series Volleyball Glenwood
LOCAL COUNCIL OF THE YEAR
Central Coast Council Woongarrah
City of Ryde Ryde
Wagga City Council Mount Austin
Penrith City Council Penrith
Wollondilly Shire Council Picton