Winners revealed at Squash Australia Awards

The Squash Australia Annual Awards were held in Brisbane on Saturday evening where winners from around the country were revealed in what has been a memorable twelve months for the sport.

CLICK HERE FOR IMAGES FROM THE NIGHT, COURTESY OF ROGUE GUN PHOTOGRAPHY & MEDIA.

The sport’s community came together at the Hotel Grand Chancellor to celebrate a host of deserving award recipients in a remarkable 2023 which saw Melbourne host the WSF World Junior Championships and Squash accepted into the Olympic Games.

In the final presentation of the evening, Chris Sinclair was recognised for more than 35 years of service to the game by being inducted as a General Member into the Squash Australia Hall of Fame.

Chris has been a leader in the sport since the 1980s and became an international referee in 1987. Chris has officiated PSA World Tour events, WSF World Championships and at all Commonwealth Games from 1998 to 2018, including being the Championships Referee on the Gold Coast.

Chris was involved in forming the Australian Junior Championships in the 1980s, served on the WSF Referee Committee, Convenor for Oceania Squash Federation Rules & Referee Committee, Squash Australia Referee Appraisals Panel and as a Director on the Squash Australia Board.

She was awarded the Sport NSW Official of the Year in 2018, the Distinguished Service Award from Squash Australia in 2010 and an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

“My achievements in squash have all been in refereeing, so I didn’t for a minute think it was going to catapult me into the Hall of Fame, I’m very grateful,” she said. “For me, I just enjoy the sport, I don’t care what I do, whether I do administration or run a junior event, I just enjoy the sport at all levels.

“Referees are a small but important part of the sport, so it’s lovely to be recognised. It’s not just important for me, but for all referees to feel they are celebrated and important. I was just surprised to be inducted, for a referee to be included is just so surprising and wonderful. I’m very thankful to my husband for his support.

“A highlight of my career was watching squash players I knew walk into the opening ceremony of the first Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. I’ll be looking forward to sitting in my lounge chair and watching them walk into LA.”

It was a bumper night for Western Australia who will be flying plenty of extra baggage home this week.

The state was named as the recipient of the Ted Barlow State/Territory of the Year, but the accolades didn’t stop there.

Oscar Curtis once again won the Chris Robertson Junior Player of the Year, Tim Cowell was named Keith Walker Coach of the Year, Sue Hillier won Masters Player of the Year and Mirrabooka picked up the Club of the Year Award.

Squash WA General Manager Leigh Kaye collected the Paul Vear Administrator of the Year Award and reflected on a tremendous year for the sport in the west.

“Thank you to our clubs, our board and our amazing volunteer base in WA who have all helped us achieve our goals and made all this possible,” said Leigh. “Without the support of Squash Australia, the staff in our office, our volunteers and our community, we would not be where we are now.

“We have a culture in WA of all working together and when you have that culture of togetherness, it really changes things. I’ve got a great relationship with Queensland and Chantal, with James from South Australia and from Dennis from Victoria, and together, we’re smarter. We’re just going to keep pushing and keep driving and hope we can take squash to that next level.

“Taking these awards back to WA just shows that the community's hard work is paying off and that we are the state of choice this year.”

Along with Curtis, two more recipients won Awards in back-to-back years: Russell Weatherburn again picked up the David Donnelly Referee of the Year Award and Brad Hindle from Daisy Hill Squash & Racquet Club was named Court Owner of the Year.
 
Squash Australia CEO Robert Donaghue said the Awards night was a tremendous way to cap off 2023 as the sport looks to go to new heights in the years ahead.

“On behalf of the Board, a big congratulations to all recipients of the 2023 Squash Australia Awards, and our newest inductee to the Hall of Fame, Chris Sinclair,” said Donaghue. “This night is always a fantastic occasion to celebrate everything that is good about squash and recognise the people who are taking our game forward both on and off the court.

“There’s no doubt that the squash community is standing a little prouder since the sport was named in the LA 2028 Olympic program and we now have a great opportunity to launch into 2024 and beyond.

“The City Tattersalls Group Australian Open being staged in Sydney’s Martin Place is going to place a spotlight on the sport, and the growth of our Squash Stars national participation program is having an impact at the grassroots level.

“It really is an exciting time for squash.”

2023 SQUASH AUSTRALIA AWARD WINNERS

SERVICE AWARDS
Distinguished Service Award - Garry Keith Irwin (NSW)
Beverley Gould Service to Juniors Award - Vicki Cardwell (SA)
Volunteer of the Year - George Deubler (NSW)
Paul Vear Administrator of the Year - Leigh Kaye (WA)
Court Owner of the Year - Brad Hindle (QLD)
Club of the Year - Mirrabooka Squash Club (WA)
Ted Barlow State/Territory of the Year - Western Australia (WA)

SPORT AWARDS
Michelle Martin Female Player of the Year - Jess Turnbull (QLD)
David Palmer Male Player of the Year - Joseph White (NT)
Sarah Fitz-Gerald Junior Female Player of the Year - Madison Lyon (QLD)
Chris Robertson Junior Male Player of the Year - Oscar Curtis (WA)
Masters Player of the Year - Sue Hillier (WA)
Keith Walker Coach Award - Tim Cowell (WA)
David Donnelly Referee Award - Russell Weatherburn (ACT)

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
General Member - Chris Sinclair (NSW)