Finalists

Over the past three years Chris Luxford, President of the Greenbank Giants AFC, has transformed the club from a small community team of around 50 players into a thriving, inclusive sporting hub with over 200 members. His vision, grit, and humility have built not just a football club, but a true community.

From mowing the oval before sunrise to meeting with local leaders to advocate for the club’s future, Chris leads by example. Under his guidance, the Greenbank Giants earned the 2024 Ken Gannon Award, recognising excellence in community football development and marking the club as one of Queensland’s most admired grassroots organisations, built on integrity, respect, and inclusiveness.

Chris’s belief that footy should be for everyone has created structured pathways for multicultural participation, partnerships with local councils and community organisations, and a welcoming environment for players of all backgrounds. As a Women and Girls Chartered Club, he has championed female leadership across all levels from coaches and committee members to players and volunteers.

His adaptability and innovation have driven growth and sustainability, securing sponsorships, improving facilities, and establishing partnerships that strengthen both the Giants and the broader community.

Chris’s legacy extends far beyond the scoreboard. Through his leadership and service, he is inspiring a new generation of volunteers, coaches, and community leaders, proving that strong leadership is grounded in integrity, inclusion, and care for others.

In Western Australia’s South West, Bianca McRae has made an extraordinary contribution to football, transforming both Vasse Soccer Club and the wider sporting community. Through her vision, planning, and collaboration, she has strengthened governance, inclusion, and community engagement across the region.

Under Bianca’s leadership, Vasse became the first regional club and only the second in Western Australia to achieve 2-Star Club Changer accreditation through Football Australia, a testament to her commitment to excellence in governance, safeguarding, and volunteer management.

Bianca has introduced policies that promote transparency, inclusion, and child safety, and her fundraising and partnership work have doubled the club’s financial position. She also launched the “Volunteer in Focus” campaign to recognise contributions and inspire new involvement.

Her efforts to create inclusive opportunities, including All-Abilities Come & Try events and collaborations with Football Futures, have made soccer accessible to all. Through leadership roles with Football West, Bianca continues to champion the voice of regional players and clubs.

Bianca’s impact goes far beyond the pitch, she has built stronger communities, inspired volunteers, and set a new standard for integrity and inclusion in sport.

In one of Australia’s most remote sporting communities, Esther Rika has redefined what it means to be a volunteer. Based in Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Esther has spent over a decade driving participation and inclusion at the Gove Country Golf Club — a volunteer-run club more than 1,000 kilometres from Darwin.

As a National Program Deliverer, she has brought golf to life across the region, delivering MyGolf, Get Into Golf, and the Australian Golf Foundation Girls Scholarship Program in schools and remote communities. Her leadership has led to a 33% increase in participation and remarkable growth in girls’ involvement in golf.

Under Esther’s guidance, Gove became the first Northern Territory club to sign the R&A Women in Golf Charter, setting a benchmark for equity and inclusion. She also developed a peer-mentoring program for juniors, building leadership and providing pathways for young players to gain national accreditation.

A former Director of Golf NT (2015–2024), Esther’s influence extends beyond the fairway. Her innovation, compassion, and cultural respect have built a thriving, inclusive golfing community in one of Australia’s most isolated regions — proving that one volunteer can change the landscape of sport.

Inclusion, leadership, and community are at the heart of Veronica Treloar’s volunteering journey. At the Williamstown Swimming & Life Saving Club, Veronica has transformed opportunities for children with disabilities and strengthened the culture of inclusion within lifesaving sport across Victoria.

As coordinator of the Starfish Nippers program since 2016, she has grown participation from five to twenty children, ensuring each session runs with a 1:1 volunteer-to-participant ratio. Her commitment to mentoring and disability awareness training has created a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where every child can thrive.

Beyond her club, Veronica’s impact extends statewide. In 2024, she joined Life Saving Victoria’s Adaptive Sport Working Group, helping introduce adaptive events into major lifesaving carnivals, giving 23 athletes with disabilities the chance to compete for the first time. Her leadership continues to build pathways for inclusion, collaboration, and belonging across the sport.

Recognised as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year at the Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Awards, Veronica exemplifies the values of Australian sport, fairness, integrity, inclusion, and respect. Her dedication has inspired lasting change and ensured lifesaving is a sport for everyone.