2020 Award Winners

Most Outstanding Performance by a Student-Athlete with a Disability

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Katja Dedekind 

Bachelor of Arts, University of the Sunshine Coast

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At the Australian Virtual Short Course Championships (26 – 29th November 2020) Katja broke 4 World Records (400 Free, 50m Back, 100m Back, 200IM) as well as achieved 2 other first place results (50m Free, 100m Free)

Broke the Australian Record at the World Para Series in 100m Back in addition to 2 more Australian records set at NSW state champs and then broke her own record at the Qld state champs (500m Free, 100m Back)

Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement by a Student-Athlete 

Madeleine Gough

Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bond University

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Maddy broke the Australian 1500m short course freestyle record at the Short Course Preparation Meet. Her time of 15:38.01 was the 8th fastest in history and took five seconds off the 2015 Australian record and is the 2nd fastest swim in the world since 2014.

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Female Student-Athlete of the Year

Caitlin Adams

Master of Teaching (Secondary), University of South Australia

Athletics – Distance Running

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1st place in the 10km event at the UniSport Virtual Distance Running Championship in a time of 33:19

Male Student-Athlete of the Year

Ben Tacey

Bachelor of Sport Studies, University of the Sunshine Coast

Athletics – Distance Running

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1st place in the 5km event at the UniSport Virtual Distance Running Championship in a time of 15:01

Team of the Year

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UniSA Men’s Cycling Team - University of South Australia

They won the gold medal in the 2020 UniSport Australia Online Cycle Series – with one of the team members, Callum Pearce, also winning the men's individual bronze medal

Most Outstanding University Sport Project/ Program

The Strong Women Network, University of Melbourne

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A mentoring and networking initiative bringing together women student-athletes and professional women who are current/ former athletes, coaches or sport administrators in the University of Melbourne community.

Club Leadership Award

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Melbourne University Soccer Club

Creating a more inclusive club to the LBTQIA+ community

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- One member of the club nominated to be their inaugural Pride Ambassador

- The Club successfully applied for a State Dept of Health Grant to host the inaugural 'All Gender Games Series' - a soccer tournament for non-binary and trans-women and trans-men.

- Production of three videos that discussed issues of gender diversity and sexual diversity and how it relates to sport

- Club Member represented their club at the Wear it Purple Proud to Play Panel

- Changes to the club's Constitution allowing for a more inclusive definition of gender

Official of the Year

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Jay McCracken

University of the Sunshine Coast

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Jay has been a committed volunteer and valuable contributor to University Sport at USC since he commenced his undergraduate degree in 2014. In 2020 he applied this experience to create an exceptional and professional opportunity and pathway for students as the USC Program Coordinator for the new University Basketball League (UBL).  Jay has also coached the men’s and women’s USC Rip City teams for NBL 2

Jay has demonstrated a strong commitment to university sport and student well being and also shows considerable potential to keep delivering in this field through his pursuit of continual learning. He has recently completed an MBA and has held many positions such as coach of junior, senior, high level, team manager and coordinator roles with the view to getting a well rounded experience.

Most Outstanding Contribution By a Student Volunteer

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Douglas Howard

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Medical Physics, University of South Australia

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• Started the UniSA tennis club in 2015 and has been president 2015-2020

• Committee member of the UniSA netball club

• Student member of the UniSA sport advisory group 2014-2020

• Umpire for on campus social competitions

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2019 Unisport Australia Award Winner

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Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement by a Student-Athlete

Minna Atherton (Swimming)

Bachelor of Biomedical Science – Bond University

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Most Outstanding Performance by an Athlete with a Disability

Jaryd Clifford (Para-Athletics)

Bachelor of Arts – The University of Melbourne

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Most Outstanding Performance by an Indigenous Student-Athlete

Jemma Mi Mi (Netball)

Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology – Queensland University of Technology

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Female Athlete of the Year

Catriona Bisset (Athletics)

Master of Architecture and Diploma in Languages – The University of Melbourne

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Male Athlete of the Year

Matt Denny (Athletics)

Bachelor of Business – Griffith University

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Team of the Year 

University of Wollongong – Men’s Football Team

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Most Outstanding Contribution by a Student Volunteer

Tyson Lingham

Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science - RMIT University

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Official of the Year

Peter Rowe 

University of South Australia

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Official of the Year

Tyler Miller

Bachelor of Arts (Major in Psychology) – The University of Western Australia

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Community Leadership

Casey Sims

Doctor of Philosophy – Queensland University of Technology

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Most Outstanding Social Media Campaign

RMIT University

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Most Outstanding Photo from a 2019 UniSport Nationals Event

Nick Sterkenburg

Macquarie University

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2015 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Bronte Campbell (swimming) – Queensland University of Technology

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance by an Athlete with a Disability:

Dylan Alcott (tennis) - The University of Melbourne

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Dane Bird-Smith (athletics) - The University of Queensland

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Holly Barratt (swimming - pictured) – The University of Western Australia

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Team of the Year:

Women’s rowing team – The University of Melbourne

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Coach of the Year:

Edward Denis (water polo) - Monash University

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Community Leadership:

Raise the Bar Academy – The University of Melbourne

2014 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Emma McKeon (swimming) – Griffith University 

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Sam Gilmour (sailing) - The University of Western Australia

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Fiona Albert (rowing) - The University of Queensland

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Team of the Year:

Sailing team – The University of Western Australia

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Coach of the Year:

Bruce Vyvvan (swimming) - UNSW Sydney

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Service to Sport Awards:

Bruce Ross – The University of Sydney

Amy Ryan - Queensland University of Technology

2013 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Mathew Belcher (sailing) – Bond University

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Chris Dyson (water polo) - University of Technology Sydney

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Katie-Rae Ebzery (basketball) – The University of Sydney

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Team of the Year:

Athletics team – The University of Sydney

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Coach of the Year:

Iain Scott (football) - The University of Melbourne

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Service to Sport Award:

Dean Gleeson – The University of Sydney

2012 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Matthew Cowdrey (Paralympic swimming) – The University of Adelaide

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Sam Gilmour (sailing) - The University of Western Australia

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Grace Loh (swimming) - The University of Melbourne

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Team of the Year:

Sailing team – The University of Western Australia

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Coach of the Year:

Dean Gleeson (athletics) - The University of Sydney

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Service to Sport Awards:

Joshua Van Kampen – The University of Western Australia

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2011 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Blake Cochrane (swimming) – University of the Sunshine Coast

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Lachlan Renshaw (athletics) - The University of Sydney

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Marieke Guehrer (swimming) – The University of Melbourne

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Team of the Year:

Women's Swim Team – The University of Melbourne

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Coach of the Year:

Alex Henshilwood (rowing) - The University of Melbourne

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Service to Sport Award:

Jean Ryan – Charles Sturt University

2010 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Lauren Mitchell (gymnastics) – The University of Notre Dame Australia

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Liam Adams (cross country) - Victoria University

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Katya Crema (snow sports) - The University of Melbourne

Sarah Kent (cycling) - The University of Western Australia

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Team of the Year:

The University of Sydney Athletics Club

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Coach of the Year:

Grant Landers (triathlon) - The University of Western Australia

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Service to Sport Awards:

David Price

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2009 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Dani Samuels (athletics) – The University of Western Sydney

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Tristan Thomas (athletics) - The University of Canberra

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Madeline Pape (athletics) – RMIT University

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Team of the Year:

Snows Sports Team – Macquarie University

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Coach of the Year:

Paul Oberman (water polo)

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Service to Sport Award:

Warren Rosser – The University of New South Wales

John Kanis - The University of Melbourne

2008 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Susan Pratley (netball) – The University of Sydney

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Liam Adams (cross country) - Victoria University

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Taniele Gofers (water polo) - The University of Sydney

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Team of the Year:

Women’s Rowing Team - The University of Melbourne

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Coach of the Year:

Ian Wright (rowing) - The University of Melbourne

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Service to Sport Awards:

Deidre Anderson - Macquarie University

Jeannette Meakins - The University of Western Australia

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2007 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Alice McNamara (rowing) – The University of Melbourne

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Sean Wroe (athletics) - Swinburne University of Technology

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Jess Foley  (basketball) – Flinders University

Georgia Woodyard (basketball) - University of Technology Sydney

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Team of the Year:

Men’s Volleyball Team – Queensland University of Technology

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Coach of the Year:

Carrie Graf (basketball)

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Service to Sport Award:

Chris Noel – The University of Sydney

2006 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Lisbeth Lenton (swimming) – Griffith University  

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Hugh Tait (sailing) – University of Technology Sydney  

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Elsa O’Hanlon (rowing) – The University of Sydney

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Team of the Year:

Snow Sports – The University of Melbourne

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Coach of the Year:

Phil Bourguignon (rowing) – The University of Sydney  

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Service to Sport Awards:

Rene Leveaux – University of Technology Sydney  

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2005 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Alexandra Blackwell (cricket) – University of New South Wales  

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Trent Franklin (water polo) – The University of Sydney  

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Jacqueline Bonnitcha (sailing) – The University of Sydney  

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Team of the Year:

Men’s Water Polo – The University of Sydney 

Taekwondo – Monash University 

2017 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Performance:

Jordan Mercer (paddleboard) - University of the Sunshine Coast

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Most Outstanding Performance AWD:

Hannah Macdougall (para-cycling) - La Trobe University

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Most Outstanding Performance - Indigenous Student-Athlete:

Courtney Hagen (cricket & basketball) - Australian Catholic University

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Sian Whittaker (swimming) - Deakin University

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Kyle Cranston (athletics) - Australian Catholic University

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Team of the Year:

Macquarie University men’s 3x3 basketball team

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Coach of the Year:
Chris Lucas (basketball) - Emerging Opals Head Coach

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Community Leadership Award:

Kicking Goals Together Project - Australian Catholic University and
Queensland University of Technology

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President's Citation Award (Special Award):

The University of Queensland Aon Women’s Rugby 7s team (pictured)

2018 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement:

Madison de Rozario (Para-Athletics) - Griffith University

Bachelor of Business

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Most Outstanding Performance by a Student-Athlete with a Disability:

Lakeisha Patterson (Para-Swimming) - The University of Queensland

Bachelor of Architectural Design

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Most Outstanding Performance - Indigenous Student-Athlete:

Asha Steer (Orienteering) - The University of Melbourne

Bachelor of Environments

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Laura Waldie (Rugby 7s) - Griffith University

Bachelor of Dentistry

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Simon McTavish (Canoe Sprint) - The University of Sydney Bachelor of Project Management

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Team of the Year:

Federation University Men's AFL Team (pictured)

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The University of Sydney Women’s Football Team

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Coach of the Year:

Nathan Doyle (Para-Swimming) - University of the Sunshine Coast

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Community Leadership Award:

Deakin Dragons & Deakin University Alcohol Culture Change Project 

2004 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Most Outstanding Sporting Performance:

Grant Hackett (swimming) – Bond University 

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Fergus Pragnell (rowing) – The University of Sydney  

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Sally Kehoe (rowing) – The University of Queensland  

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Team of the Year:

Athletics – The University of Queensland 

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2003 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Brenton Rickard (swimming) – Monash University  

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Loudy Tourky (diving) – The University of Sydney 

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Team of the Year:

Women’s Hockey – The University of Sydney  

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2002 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Joel Wing (waterski) – The University of New South Wales 

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Kirsten Thomson (swimming) – The University of Sydney 

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Team of the Year:

Athletics – The University of Queensland  

Men’s Soccer – The University of Newcastle  

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2001 UniSport Australia Award Winners

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Male Athlete of the Year:

Thomas Whalan (water polo) – The University of Sydney  

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Female Athlete of the Year:

Rebecca Gilmore – The University of Sydney 

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Team of the Year:

Women’s Touch – James Cook University