The 74th Annual UNE Sports Awards Night
The annual UNE Sports Awards is the highlight of UNE’s sporting calendar, bringing together athletes, sports enthusiasts and supporters to celebrate the achievements of our exceptional sporting community. Taking place on Friday the 20th of September at The Bistro, the night was filled with celebration, highlighting the success of UNE’s student-athletes, sporting teams and sports administrators. The 74th instalment of this historic event recognised the year’s outstanding performers.
Aside from celebrating the many deserving awards recipients, attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Paralympian Evan O’Hanlon. His highly engaging speech broke down some of the misconceptions surrounding athletes with a disability and provided insight into the motivations and fears experienced by athletes at all levels of performance.
UNE economics student Daniel Michel took out the coveted UNE Sportsperson of the Year award. A 2024 Paralympic silver medallist in Boccia, it was fantastic to acknowledge Daniel’s achievements with this award.
The highly anticipated UNE Club of the Year award went to the Robb College Netball Club. The club fielded 6 women’s teams and 2 mixed teams in 2024, boasting 70 registered players. The women’s A, B & C grade teams finished as minor premiers and went on to win their respective grand finals! Additionally, 5 of the club’s members were selected as members of the UNE’s women’s side who recently competed at the 2024 Canberra UniSport Nationals.
One of the key organisers of the event reflected on the night:
“The 2024 UNE Sports Awards was a fantastic way to celebrate and recognise the UNE students and clubs who champion sport and physical activity. It is also an important recognition of the work that SportUNE continues to undertake to encourage sports participation, both on-campus and in the wider community. It was a privilege to hear from inspiring guest speaker, and Australian Paralympic legend, Evan O’Hanlon, and to award the UNE Sportsperson of the Year to 2024 Paralympic silver medallist, UNE Economics student, Daniel Michel.” – Matt Pine, Sports Manager
Award Winners:
Interdepartmental Sport: Estate and Built Environment (EBE)
Sports Administrator of the Year: Laura Elworthy (St. Albert’s College Netball Club)
Olivia Molineaux Award: Simon Li (Mary white College)
Spirit of Sport Award: New England Mountain Bikers
Sports Recognition Award: Piper Cribb (Robb College) & Ukaipo Mann (Austin Page College)
Club Honours: Lilly Marsden (St. Albert’s College Netball Club)
UNE Club Team of the Year: Robb College Rugby 1st Grade
UNE Coach of the Year: Mimi Dalton (Netball)
SportUNE Netball Coach of the Year: – Mimi Dalton (Robb College Netball Club)
SportUNE Netball Umpire: Alex Neenan (St. Albert’s College Netball Club)
SportUNE Netball Best & Fairest: Anna Ward (St. Albert’s College Netball Club)
SportUNE Netballer of the Year: Amelia Roberts (Armidale Blues Rugby & Netball Club)
UNE Intervarsity Team of the Year: UNE Mixed Netball
Mary Bagnall & President’s Trophy (MBPT): Austin Page College
Full Blue: Clare Harpley (Rugby Union) & Savannah White (Futsal)
UNE Club of the Year: Robb College Netball Club
Sportsperson of the Year: Daniel Michel (Boccia)
The UNE Sports Awards are a wonderful way to recognise and celebrate the accomplishments of UNE’s sporting legends throughout the year. The outstanding performances of this year’s award recipients will be sure to inspire our vibrant sporting community throughout 2025 as they take their achievements to new heights.
Challenge yourself and get the most out of your university experience. Join this passionate community via one of our many sporting clubs or competitions.
