Aspiring athletes, sports champions, coaches, officials and organisations came together on Thursday 27 October 2022, for the 2022 Randwick City Council Sporting Excellence Awards.

Mayor Dylan Parker said, “I am incredibly inspired by the talent in our area, and the passion that drives our local sporting community. These awards not only celebrate the achievements of our sports stars, but they also bring us together and encourage the next generation of athletes.”

Mayor Parker celebrated the return of the awards this year and highlighted the importance of recognising outstanding achievements in the sporting arena.

This year’s awards featured the introduction of two new categories including recognition for Randwick’s best coach as well as junior and youth athletes with a disability.

“We are very proud to expand the awards program this year. These two new categories allow us to celebrate the trainers and coaches who are so dedicated to supporting and encouraging our athletes, and athletes with a disability, who are unwaveringly committed to achieving their goals,” Mayor Parker said.

The awards include the Bradley Matthews Memorial Award for Sporting Excellence, which is open to 13 to18 year-olds who live, attend school, or are strongly affiliated with a sporting club within the City of Randwick. The Bradley Matthews Memorial Award for Sporting Excellence commemorates and celebrates the life of Bradley Matthews, the 15-year-old schoolboy who died in August 1978 after fracturing his spine in a game of football. The award was presented by Charles and Carol Matthews, parents of Bradley Matthews.

2022 Bradley Matthews Memorial Award for Sporting Excellence: Frederika “Freddie” Schneideman

A naturally gifted athlete, Frederika has represented at regional levels in swimming, athletics, water polo, touch football, AFL and netball. Freddie played junior netball for Double Bay Diamonds at Randwick Netball Association and has represented the Sydney Netball Academy (2019-2022), NSW Swifts Academy (2021-2022), U17’s National Champions (2022), U17’s NSW Team (2021-2022) and U17’s Australian Squad (2021-2022). Freddie is a team player on and off the court and is heavily involved with her local club, umpiring, and assisting with coaching and mentoring when time permits. Freddie was named Reddam House 2021 Sports Woman of the Year.

2022 Randwick City Junior Female Sports Award: Siena Novak

Siena is an incredibly dedicated and outstanding Cross Country and Track and Field Athlete representing at State and National Level. In 2022 Siena was selected for Nationals in NSW cross Country Schools and NSW Athletics Teams in U14’s, placing second in the NSW State All Schools Cross Country, first in the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Cross Country, first in the Independent Girls Schools (IGSA) Cross Country, first in the NSW Cross Country Road Relays Teams and fastest U14’s over 2km. Siena is a highly respected Team Leader and mentor to her fellow athletes and is a member of the Elite Athletes Program at St Catherine’s School Waverley where she is on an “All Rounders Scholarship”.

2022 Randwick City Junior Male Sports Award: Ethan Costa

Ethan is an athlete, teammate and friend and is recognised for his humility and sportsmanship. He has achieved gold medals in 70m, 100m, 200m and Long Jump at the Little Athletics NSW State Athletics Championship, 2022. He has broken long standing records in the 70m sprint at both Zone and Regional levels. Ethan was named Sand Competitor of The Year for Coogee Nippers and Male Athlete of The Year for Randwick Botany. When Ethan isn’t competing, you will find him close to the track, cheering on and supporting his peers at Little Athletics and Nippers.

2022 Sporting Excellence - Junior with a Disability: Margaret Jordan

Margaret is a vision impaired (legally blind) swimmer who loves swimming in the pool and in the ocean. In 2022, Margaret has received three Silver Medals at State Swimming championships, one bronze medal at state swimming championships (multi class) and has qualified for the National Championships in Brisbane.

Margaret is a proud member of Coogee Nippers and, in 2021, received two Coogee Minnows awards: The Age Managers Award for being at Nippers every Sunday and always participating, and the John Mudge Trophy, awarded for lifesaving.

2022 Sporting Excellence - Youth with a Disability: Coco Imogen Espie

Coco was born with cerebral palsy and developed a passion for sport watching her siblings play. Since starting training at NSW Wheelchair Sport, Homebush and at Little Athletics, E S Marks Athletics Field, she now has dreams of becoming a Paralympian like her mentor and coach Louise Sauvage. In 2021, Coco had a great day at All Schools Carnival representing SCEGGS, winning all four of her events and breaking the Australian record for discus and shot put in her classification and age range. In March 2022, Coco went to Athletics Australia Nationals with the NSW team, competed in six events and placed first in discus for U15’s at only thirteen years of age.

2022 Randwick Coach of the Year: Jordan Williams

Jordan lives in Maroubra and has spent twenty years as an athlete and seven years as a running coach. Jordan is the Head Coach of Athletics and Cross Country at The Emanuel School Randwick and St Catherine's Waverley. He provides more than 70 young athletes to the Randwick Botany Harriers Athletics Club. The success of his junior athletes has seen the Club dominate the NSW Winter Clubs Premierships for 2022. His squad achieved five gold and one silver medal at the NSW Cross Country Championships in June 2022 for the Randwick Botany Club. He is the youngest accredited Level 3 Performance Coach with Athletics NSW/Australia. His highly successful training squad Up And Running based in Centennial Park is the home of countless State, National and International Level Athletes across the sports of Track and Field Athletics, Cross Country, Triathlon and Surf Sports. His squad caters for all levels of ability with more than 130 athletes aged between 5 and 20. He thrives on community and family and supports his team through a highly inclusive environment. This forms the basis for his extraordinary achievements as a coach, the pinnacle of which is undoubtedly Laura Roderick's 2022 qualification for World Junior Athletics in 1500m, 3000m and 5000m, and her selection to represent Australia at World Juniors in the 5000m.

2022 Randwick City Hall of Sporting Champions: Jason DeLisle and Amy Parmenter

Jason excelled in his chosen sport of Boxing as a fighter and coach for over three decades. As an amateur and after winning a Kick Boxing World Title, Jason "The Nailer" DeLisle entered the amateur boxing world and made an immediate impact.

He was selected to train at the Australian Institute of Sport prior to Australia selection to fight in Europe. Jason beat Olympic and two-time Professional World Champion Danny Green prior to turning professional. He unfortunately missed the 2000 Olympics after beating Danny Green but losing the final. Jason’s courage and determination has seen him compete in twenty-six matches and over the past few years has got him through medical treatment and stomach operations to fight Cancer. Jason is cancer free but suffers from stomach disorders from radiation and chemotherapy. Despite this, Jason still finds a way to get up and train, work, and care for his sixteen-year-old son and train and mentor aspiring young boxers in the Maroubra area. Jason has a reputation in the boxing circles as one of the toughest but nicest people you will ever meet.

Amy started playing netball with Randwick Rugby Netball Club at the Randwick Netball Association in her early teens. Before her time in the Australian National League (ANL), Amy represented Netball New South Wales and Australia at U17/19 levels.

Amy was elevated to the Giants ahead of the 2019 season, having been a training partner with Canberra Giants in the ANL for the previous two years.  Amy had an outstanding debut season in 2019 at the Giants, recording the most intercepts of any midcourter in the competition and ending the year by being awarded the Rising Star/Rookie of the Year award. While Amy earned her spot in the Diamonds Squad for 2021 - 2022 she continues to dedicate time to grass roots coaching. She volunteers to coach many junior teams and players whenever her schedule allows. Amy is very committed to giving back to the PSSA Primary schools netball program, the Randwick Netball Association and is the Founder of the Tie Dye Project which has raised over $250K for cancer charities.

The ceremony was MC’d by Cr Danny Said, who assisted the Mayor in presenting the awards.

Randwick Council presented the four local surf clubs (Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra and South Maroubra) and the Surf Life Saving Randwick Offshore Rescue Boat Association with their annual donation cheques. Bryce Wilde, from Clovelly Surf Lifesaving Club spoke on behalf of the surf clubs as district chair.

Randwick Council also presented a donation cheque to Shane Daw ESM, Chairman of the Westpac Helicopter Service as part of Council’s ongoing joint sponsorship of the Surf Life Saving NSW rescue helicopter.