Outstanding sports volunteers received Distinguished Long Service Awards at the 2024 NSW Community Sports Awards, presented by Sport NSW, on Wednesday, June 19, with two locals among them - Barry Antella OAM (Surf Life Saving) and Beverly Dew OAM (Netball).
The Awards night, conducted at CommBank Stadium, recognises outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in NSW which is largely carried out by a volunteer workforce.
A total of 21 recipients from a wide cross-section of sports received their Distinguished Long Service Awards from NSW Sports Minister, the Hon. Steve Kamper.
The volunteers are honoured for their decades of dedicated and unselfish service to their sport.
Sport NSW Chairperson, Chris Hall congratulated the volunteers on their Awards and paid tribute to their service.
“These volunteers are the backbone of grassroots and community sport and it is fitting these Distinguished Long Service Award recipients are recognised and honoured,” said Mr Hall.
“We thank them for their years of selfless dedication which has enabled generations of boys and girls, men and women to participate in sport and enjoy the life skills, social benefits and community spirit that it provides,” he said.
“Sport has the unique unifying ability to bring people of different cultures and backgrounds together.
“At the centre are the army of volunteers who each week dedicate themselves to ensure the games are played, the fields are marked, the canteen is stocked, and the barbeque is sizzling.
“Sport is at the heart of our local communities and, quite simply, sport would not exist without our magnificent volunteers,” said Mr Hall.
The Awards presentation evening also celebrates volunteers across 12 categories for their outstanding achievements and excellence to over the past year.
The categories are Community Official of the Year, Young Official of the Year, Community Coach of the Year, Young Coach of the Year, Community Sports Administrator of the Year, Volunteer Director of the Year, Community Team of the Year, Community Club of the Year, Inclusion Achievement of the Year, Community Event of the Year, Innovation of the Year and Local Council of the Year.
Barry Antella OAM – Queenscliff SLSC
Barry joined Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club in 1974. He was active as a patron and maintained club equipment and property of the club. Barry gained his Bronze Medallion in 1994 and now holds over 80 Lifesaving awards.
Barry was elected as Chief Instructor for Queenscliff SLSC in the 2001-2002 season and continued on in this role until 2007. During this time some 2,600 awards were processed, a record number of awards for the Club. Barry became Club Captain in 2007 and held that role for 5 years. He supervised the renovation of the Club training room and the construction of the Lifeguard room to accommodate the Council Lifeguards. The Training and Education room at Queenscliff SLSC is named the “Barry Antella Training Room” in dedication to the enormous amount of work Barry did.
Barry joined the SNB Board of Examiners in 1994 and since gaining his Bronze has been involved as a Trainer and Assessor at Club and Branch Level. He is well known throughout the 21 SNB Clubs as a person who will assist in training or make himself available to assess a squad whenever and wherever required. He has also been involved in the competition side of Surf Life Saving as a competitor and an Official in the First Aid, Patrol Competition and Champion Lifesaver areas. In 2015 Barry took on the role of area referee at Branch/State and National levels in these disciplines.
Barry has deservedly been honoured with many awards; SNB Distinguished Service Award in 1999, SNB Life Membership award in 2007, SNB Examiner of the Year in 2001, SNB Examiner of the Year in 2002, Harry Ragan Outstanding Service Award in 2003, Surf Life Saving New South Wales Training Officer of the Year in 2003 and Commonwealth Sports Achievement award in 2003.
You would be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated volunteer than surf lifesaver Barry Antella, he has devoted 50 years to his beloved Club. He was honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2015 in recognition to his contribution to not only Queenscliff Surf Lifesaving Club but Surf Life Saving.
Beverly Dew OAM
Beverly Dew, who hails from the Manly Warringah Netball Association, has been a stalwart of the game for many decades. She received the Anne Clark Service Award in 2006 and the Order of Australia medal for services to netball in the same year.
The following are just some of her many contributions to the game:
- 1980 – 1982: Netball NSW Junior Vice President
- 1980s: Netball NSW Magazine Committee
- 1980s: Netball NSW Umpires Committee
- 1983: Netball NSW Tournament Co-ordinator
- 1984-1987: Netball NSW Promotions Officer
- 1986: Manager, NNSW Night Tournament
- 2013-present: Historical and Archiving Committee
Netball NSW CEO Tracey Scott congratulated Dew and thanked her for the decades of service provided to the game.
“It is people like Beverly who have made netball a true national sport and one of the most popular in both NSW and Australia.
“Her passion has been the the hallmark of everything she’s done in the game.
“Most recently, alongside her fellow Historical Committee Members, she has proven herself to be an invaluable guardian of netball’s legacy and I thank her for this.
“Netball NSW is proud to have so many amazing champions of the game strengthening its foundations. Bev is one such champion and I would love to congratulate her on this fitting honour.”
The Distinguished Long Service Awards recipients are:
Recipient, Sport, Residing suburb
- Barry Antella OAM Surf Life Saving Naremburn
- Jenny Bailey Northern NSW Football Lambton
- Margi Bohm Paddle Queanbeyan
- Colleen Brook Equestrian Wilberforce
- Francis 'Bernie' Delaney Rugby League Estella
- Beverly Dew OAM Netball North Balgowlah
- Armando Gardiman AM Football Haberfield
- Neil Holmes Rowing Kingswood
- Warren Jarrett Cricket Rutherford
- Maree Kirby Motorcycling Doyalson
- George Louie Dragon Boat Queens Park
- Clinton Mallett Hockey Goonellabah
- John Martin Basketball Jaspers Brush
- Heather Mitchell Athletics Miranda
- John Oliver Orienteering Wagga Wagga
- Barbara Pearson Gymnastics Mosman
- Stan Pedersen (deceased) Tennis Baulkham Hills
- Glenn Pincott Motorsport Blue Haven
- Ronald Pollett Little Athletics Tregear
- Warren Rosser OAM Judo Brighton Le Sands
- John Turnbull Touch Football Erina
Photos and Biographies: Barry Antella OAM courtesy SLSSNB and Beverly Dew OAM courtesy Netball NSW