The VIATEK Central Coast Academy of Sport Awards Evening was held on Wednesday 2nd December at Mingara Recreation Club. In a COVID safe room full of seated guests, athletes, parents and supporters the CCAS announced the major award winners for 2020.
The awards evening was the second stage of the restructured awards presentation. Every sporting program athletes of the year winners and encouragement award winners (who were announced at a previous event titled the Athlete Celebration), were all in the running to be announced as the overall Central Coast Academy of Sport Male or Female Athlete of the Year.
The CCAS is proud to announce the following winners:
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Major Awards |
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Male Athlete of the Year: |
Alexander Jones (Hockey) |
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Female Athlete of the Year: |
Stella Norris (Triathlon) |
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Chairman’s Award: |
Olivia Miles (Netball) and Brianna Kelly (Basketball) |
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The Ray Sandell Dedication to Sporting Excellence: |
Jason Millers (Golf) |
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RASi Coaches Award: |
Brett Johnson (Hockey) |
RASi Coaches Awards – Brett Johnson
When it comes to experience look no further than the extensive background that Brett Johnson brings to the UAA Hockey Program. 35+ years of involvement in the sport, a Queensland representative and Australian National Champion, an Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship holder, an Australian representative (1995) capped six times, a person who has toured quite extensively throughout his playing career and more recently his coaching and administrative drive for the sport is possibly second to none on the Central Coast. Brett Johnson brings this level and wealth of experience and passion to the Central Coast Academy of Sport UAA Hockey program.
In 2015 Brett also took on the difficult task as President of the Central Coast Hockey Association, a position he holds to this day and a person who has overseen significant governance changes along the way. Brett holds this position whilst committing considerable time on the field as a highly valued coach.
Brett’s coaching philosophy is very insightful, where he focusses on two major elements, the importance of sound basic skills and to be able to apply those skills as a problem solver. As a graduate of the AIS his understanding and exposure to fundamental skill development and the importance they hold at all levels of the sport was ground into his development. Brett encourages his athletes that sport is played in an ‘open’ learning environment, there are no predictable outcomes, the playing aspects are always changing and players have to adapt their own game to be equipped to solve the problems that arise in games with open skills.
Brett has been involved with the Central Coast Academy of Sport for the past three years and in that time his drive, passion and commitment to the local athletes has mirrored his own success in the sport. It has been nothing less than exceptional.
Ray Sandell Dedication to Sporting Excellence – Jason Millers
Jason has been an enthusiastic and dedicated team manager of the CCAS Golf Program for the past four years. As Squad Manager his passion not only for the game but implementing its virtues into the lives of all the squad athletes has been infectious. His creed of building fun and friends for life shone through as he encouraged all to develop friendships with all they met through the program. He was also a supporter of bringing in the younger squad members to get a taste of more highly skilled training and to promote a mentor/buddy system with the older athletes. This instilled the idea of paying back and the responsibility of being an ambassador to the game of golf. He was always available to the athletes and it was never a trouble to lend a hand to the coaches.
It didn’t stop at squad sessions as Jason became involved in District Encourage Shield and Junior Pennant seasons. He helped to expand the competition by championing amalgamated district team’s, so no child was left out even if the club they were at didn’t have enough to field a full team. Several of our squad athlete’s over the last few years have come from these teams as they have grown through the competition and taken on the challenge to improve further.
Jason has been a significant reason for the success of the golf program the last few years encouraging athletes to join the program, he has also been responsible for the growth of junior golf in the district. The CCAS is extremely fortunate to have the support of Jason as the recipient of the Ray Sandell Dedication to Sporting Excellence Award.
CCAS Chairman’s Award – Olivia Miles and Brianna Kelly
Olivia has been an integral member of the CCAS netball squad and Indigenous program for the past 3 years. From the moment she was selected, her genuine excitement and passion for netball was unmatched. Olivia’s hard work and dedication to the program saw her earn the spot of Vice-Captain of the squad in 2019, beating out many older athletes for the top spot. She is always willing to put in the extra effort and support the coaches, managers, CCAS office staff and her fellow athletes in any way that she can. We are extremely proud of Olivia and thank her for her dedicated service and contribution to the netball program over the last 3 years.
Brianna has had an outstanding season with the CCAS. Brianna is a three-year graduant of the program and this past year she provided a strong guiding light for her team mates and the younger athletes in the program. As a returning athlete Brianna never used that as an excuse to ‘take it easy’ or slacken off, rather she led by example and this is what the Chairman’s award is really all about. She pushed herself every session to make herself and others better. This drive and hard work was rewarded with her selection in the Central Coast Crusaders Youth League Woman team playing against athletes 6 years older than her. A true testament to hard work paying off and a very well-deserved recipient of this award.
CCAS Male Athlete of the Year – Alexander Jones
Alexander had a fantastic year with the Academy program. I am sure that it was a major disappointment that AJ could not participate at the Academy games to show off his progression in the past year. AJ demonstrated his ability to be a team leader often giving encouragement to players of which were less confident. Always looking to develop new skills and fine-tune existing skills, he demonstrated that he is capable of pushing himself in order to improve his game as well as working on his fitness outside of the program which showed when testing the fitness of athletes. AJ is respectful to both players and coaches, always willing to learn and improve and has a high training intensity, focus and drive.
CCAS Female Athlete of the Year- Stella Norris
Stella’s first year in triathlon as a talent transfer athlete from athletics and Surf Life Saving has seen some fantastic results, with many podium positions. Stella has worked hard to increase skills on the bike to be able to match her swim and run abilities. This determination, drive and enthusiasm is making Stella a well rounded triathlete.
The only Nationals race that was able to take place in QLD last December, saw Stella make the A final in Youth Girls in a very tough field of athletes in her first National Level Triathlon Event. Stella was actively involved in almost every session that CCAS provided during lockdown – again determined to keep the training going through unprecedented times. In more recent achievements since lockdown , Stella has qualified for the Australian Age Group World Championships Team in Duathlon, should the event go ahead in Netherlands. Last weekend saw Stella in a team of 4 crowned as State Silver medalists in the Mixed Team Relay – a new addition to the sport in the next Olympics. Stella races with intent, is dedicated to her training and strives to excel in the sport and yearns to understand the technical and tactical components of racing.
Life Members:
Jan Mayfield
Jan’s journey as a volunteer with the Central Coast Academy of Sport dates back to the founding year in 2004, her work alongside Ray Sandell provided the organisation significant hours, probably in excess of sixty hours each week to the operation and function of the fledging organisation.
Jan Mayfield is a keen golfer, her membership at Shelly Beach Golf Club is probably a second interest to her work, support and advocacy of the Central Coast Academy of Sport. The CCAS was extremely grateful when Jan offered her volunteer support to the Golf Program, Jan was keen to help in whatever way the CCAS administration staff of the time required. In her 15+ years of involvement with the Academy Jan has provided untiring support, she always found time to support the CCAS, our athletes, coaches and key industry stakeholders.
A regular supporter of the CCAS teams that travelled for the ClubsNSW Academy Games Jan did whatever was needed at the time. Her background as a highly proficient administrator with the Westpac Bank was transferred to the operation of the CCAS, Jan has held many supporting roles, always happy to be working behind the scenes, and tonight we rightfully get the chance to shine the spot light on her outstanding contribution to the success of the Central Coast Academy of Sport.
Carolyn Kay
Carolyn Kay is an astute business leader, she specialises in marketing, promotion and business support networking, Carolyn or CK as she is better known had a stella career with Proctor and Gamble before she ventured into her own business the Business Referral Group. CK’s involvement with the Central Coast Academy of Sport spans 15+ years and she has barely missed an event, Board meeting or Directors function. Carolyn has provided an important guiding hand over many years, she has an intricate knowledge of athlete pathways as her children have, and remain heavily involved in the sector. She is a great sounding board, always able to provide sensible and rational advice in an often changing sport business environment. Her contribution to the Central Coast Academy of Sport has been both incredibly impressive and highly valuable.
Ian Robilliard OAM Life Member #6
I am hard pressed to think of a person more deserving of the accolade of Life Member than Ian Robilliard OAM or “Moose” as he is better known to everyone
Ian founded the Central Coast Academy of Sport some 16 years ago after a successful professional basketball career followed by a number of high level roles with the Professional Golfers of Australia.
Ian is a past Head Coach and CEO of The Sydney Kings. He is the current Chairman of the Regional Academies of Sport, a Director of Sport Central Coast, Mingara Recreation Group, and Central Coast Basketball he remains heavily involved in sport through his vocational positions and many hours of voluntary coaching and administration support he provides to a multitude of organisations.
Since inception of the Academy vision, during a BBQ and several reds on his deck at Terrigal many years ago, his commitment and passion has been to ensure each athlete, coach, volunteer and corporate partner is positively impacted by the Central Coast Academy of Sport. He remains driven by community endeavour.
A few words come to mind when thinking of Moose…..tenacity, integrity, commitment to excellence, hardworking, and a genuine care for every life he touches as well as a very loyal long-term mate.
The Board are honoured to finally award, Ian “Moose” Robilliard OAM, Life Member of the Central Coast Academy of Sport.
