The winners of the 2025 NSW Community Sports Awards, presented by Sport NSW, were announced at CommBank Stadium on June 30.
The Awards recognise outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in NSW over the past year which is largely conducted by a volunteer workforce.
The 12 category recipients received their Awards at the ceremony hosted by Sport NSW and supported by the NSW Government with the NSW Minister for Sport, the Hon. Steve Kamper MP and the Hon. Jodie Harrison MP, Minister responsible for volunteering in attendance.
Sport NSW Chairperson, Chris Hall, congratulated the Award winners and paid tribute to all finalists.
“The NSW Community Sports Awards are the highest honours for community and grassroots sport in the state,” said Mr Hall.
“Sport lays at the heart of communities across NSW. It is where life-long friendships are formed, team-work is developed, and successes are celebrated.
“It is fitting these Award recipients and finalists are recognised and honoured and we congratulate them for their extraordinary service to sport and to their communities,” added Mr Hall.
“Without these hard-working, selfless volunteers, tens of thousands of sports participants would not be able to enjoy the health, social and community benefits sport provides.
“Unquestionably, these volunteers provide the backbone of sport for others to compete and enjoy.
“Their leadership, enthusiasm and inspiration will help motivate the next generation of volunteers,” added Mr Hall.
The Awards evening also celebrated 19 recipients of Distinguished Long Service Awards.
These Awards honoured individuals across a broad range of sports who have given exceptional service to their sport over a period of decades.
Among those recognised this year is Warriewood's Mark Stephenson for his decades of unflagging and invaluable service to Ice Hockey at a grassroots level.
Mr. Stephenson has been a coach and administrator with Ice Hockey New South Wales for over 30 years. He has coached several teams, all as a volunteer, with countless hours spent around the country at games and tournaments. He has had many achievements coaching the Sydney Sirens in the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League, the Sydney Ice Dogs in the Australian Ice Hockey League, and several state teams at the National Ice Hockey Championships.
He currently sits on the board of IHNSW as the State Coaching Director, a position he has held for 20 years. He selflessly gives up his time to travel to other states to help their boards with coaching problems and spends nights and weekends coaching and mentoring new coaches. He has never wavered in his commitment to IHNSW or to the sport.
Sport NSW Chairperson, Chris Hall, congratulated Stephenson for his extraordinary contribution to Ice Hockey.
“The Distinguished Long Service Honour presented to Mark is a testament to their selfless commitment and lasting impact. He has contributed countless hours over many years to ensure others can enjoy the benefits of sport,” said Mr Hall.
“Individuals like Mark have been the backbone of their sport within their community. They have enabled sports participants of all ages and all abilities the opportunity to enjoy the health, social and community benefits that sports participation provides.
“We congratulate all Distinguished Long Service Honour recipients. Without volunteers such as these 19 worthy recipients, sport would not exist without them,” added Mr Hall.
The Community Club of the Year award went to Collaroy Tennis Club.
Sport NSW said Collaroy Tennis Club is a leader in inclusion, excellence, and growth. From Pride in Sport to wheelchair tennis and junior programs, this club is truly for everyone.
the Hon. Jodie Harrison MP presents Collaroy's award. Photo supplied
Collaroy Tennis Club said:
''We’re so proud and honoured to have won the 2025 Sport NSW Community Club of the Year!!! Thank you to the Committee, Club members, Evolve Tennis Academy and to all our sponsors/supporters!''
Collaroy Tennis Club was actually a finalist in all three categories it nominated in; 'Inclusion Achievement of the Year' and 'Community Sport Administrator of the Year' and 'Community Club of the Year'.
Tennis NSW CEO, Darren Simpson, stressed the magnitude of this award. He said that while other awards the Club has won were within a tennis framework, this one came as recognition among ALL sports played in NSW.
Special guests present to share in CTC's success included the Mayor Sue Heins and State Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan M.P.
M.R., MP, arrived fractionally late but made sure he didn't miss out on the 'Team Photo':
2025 Community Sports Awards Winners
NSW Dept. Communities and Justice COMMUNITY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Collaroy Tennis Club
Variety COMMUNITY COACH OF THE YEAR
Karley Banks - Touch Football
ACPE YOUNG COACH OF THE YEAR
Max Marsters - Touch Football
People + Culture Strategies COMMUNITY EVENT OF THE YEAR
Your Local Club Academy Games - hosted by Northern Inland Academy of Sport
Valour COMMUNITY OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Murray Smith - Swimming
Revolutionise SPORT YOUNG OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Luke Schmude - Hockey
Sportscover COMMUNITY SPORT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Liam James - Rowing
AICD VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Melinda Stewart - Gymnastics
UNSW COMMUNITY TEAM OF THE YEAR
Terrigal U17 Female Ski Relay Team - Surf Life Saving
Multicultural NSW INCLUSION ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR
Chris Tucker – Rowing
Basketball NSW
WT Sports & Recognition INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework - Football NSW
NSW Office of Sport LOCAL COUNCIL OF THE YEAR
Dubbo Regional Council
DISTINGUISHED LONG SERVICE HONOUREES
Kristine Agosto - Squash
Wendy Archer AM - Netball
Sue Badenoch Kinsey - Football
Alan Beveridge OAM - Surf Life Saving
Paul Cini - Touch
Sharon Cooper - Cricket
Kirsten Crocker - Athletics
Stephen Croot - Rowing
Les Friend - Equestrian
Brian Gibson - Bowls
John Goh - Rugby Union
Ian Hook - Baseball
John Hughes - Northern NSW Football
Mary (Pat) Lusty - Swimming
Walter (Wally) O'Hara OAM - Gymnastics
Leeanne Palmer - Basketball
Ian Parker - AFL
Lynn Parker - Paddle
Mark Stephenson - Ice Hockey
Lynn Parker - Paddle NSW and Paddle Australia Life Member and legend. photo supplied
Paddle NSW Life Member 23:
Lynn started paddling in 1981 when the family joined the River Canoe Club (RCC) touring rivers in NSW and Victoria. Paddling has always been fun, including the very funny inaugural freestyle competition (The Plastic Pig Rodeo at Goolang Creek about 1997), slalom competitions from Club to the Nationals and Lynn became Australian Women Vets champion in 1999.
Lynn took on judging, officiating and volunteering for State, Nationals, World Cups, Sydney Masters and the Sydney Olympics, mostly in slalom but often in any discipline as she accepted more and more administrative roles.
It started in Club world, where Lynn led RCC as President 95 & 96: kept it rolling as Secretary 2001 – 2013: Training and Safety Coordinator 2012-2015: Vice President 2015 onwards. Lynn was keen to preserve the Clubs traditions, club history in print and digital format, including archiving more films at the National Film library and organising Clubs birthday milestones, etc.
Becoming a Willow Warrior – and returning numerous rivers to their former glory was an easy extension to ‘getting out there” to paddle. RCC Life membership was awarded for services in 2006.
Gaining a Paddler’s Proficiency Award was the first contact with the Board of Canoe Education and the State Federation in 1983. With an education background, Lynn’s had a natural and influential involvement with the development of products and resources to assist a paddler, an athlete, the competition and environment we paddle in.
Lynn joined NSW Canoeing management as the RCC Delegate in 1995, then the NSW Canoeing Board in 2003, soon becoming organisation secretary and Office volunteer, administrator for government compliance, insurance and membership and eventually personnel manager for employing staff one day a week.
In her Education and Training Coordinator role Lynn won substantial grants to train-up at least one qualified Coach and Instructor for each Club. The accreditation systems were put in place, with courses run across NSW for Clubs and the Industry.
The first Educators Conference for Club and Paddle Sport leaders was held. Lynn set up the PaddleNSW Club Awards, DSR support for young athletes and coaches. Managed the safety review for delivery of canoeing in Sport and Recreational camp venues in NSW.
As the administrative Chair of Education for decades, Lynn still continues to operate the accreditation system of a National Training Provider; moderating Assessors, organising and processing Awards applications for Courses for Clubs, industry, schools and the public, across NSW and ACT. Delivery has extended to internationally recognized Swift Water Rescue Technician training and instruction for paddlers of Pack rafts and inflatables.
The Waterways Guide Website and PaddleSafe APP was born out of a need to update the NSW Canoeing Guide, a previous publication by NSW Canoeing. The revision commenced in 2010 and now the Waterways Guide Website has extended nationwide. Paddling destination information is crowd sourced by the recreational community.
After PaddleNSW received another successful grant, this time from NSW Police and Emergency Services, there is the PaddleSafe APP, a companion to the website for hand held devices and an electronic Float Plan to aid trip planning, emergency procedures for safe outcomes. These resources enable a reach far beyond PA’s membership.
Summary of Service:
PaddleNSW delegate to the NSW Olympic Council since 2008
PaddleNSW Chair of the Education and Recreational Committee since 2008
PaddleNSW delegate to Australian Canoeing Recreation Committee 2014–16
On 22nd April Lynn Parker was awarded the Order of Merit by the NSW Olympic Committee for 2015 for her significant contribution to sport.
Premiers Award finalist for volunteer week 2014
PaddleNSW Board member 2003-2018
Lynn has been instrumental in the governance of state paddling for numerous decades and that outstanding commitment has cascaded for the greater betterment of our paddling environment Australia-wide.
She was deservedly awarded Life Membership of PaddleNSW in 2016 and Paddle Australia in 2019, and this 2025 recognition has been met with huge congratulations to the lady herself and comments of 'well deserved' from the Hawkesbury to all rivers heading south.