Bowls Australia a finalist in five Australian Sports Performance Awards categories
Bowls Australia (BA) is thrilled to announce that the sport will see an astonishing five finalists at the Australian Sports Performance Awards (ASPAs) after a sensational year both on and off the green.
The Right at Home Jackaroos have once again proven themselves as the benchmark within the bowling fraternity, topping the medal tally at the 2023 World Bowls Championships with five gold medals a year after completing the Birmingham Commonwealth Games atop the table.
At the forefront of the finalists is National Coach Gary Willis, who has been nominated in the Award for Leadership category thanks to his tireless effort within the space.
Willis’ mantra is about how one wins rather than just winning on the whole, while investing in the philosophy of person first and player second.
It has allowed him to develop sensational relationships with his players and giving them the tools to achieve greatness on the international scene.
One who advocates his pupils to leave the sport in a better space than when they found it, the New South Welshman has enjoyed a magnificent tenure as coach of the Australian team.
BA’s high performance team has been nominated in the High Performance Program of the Year category following continuous development within the field that has seen results of the highest calibre.
In 2021, the program embarked on a new era, establishing world class initiatives and removing barriers to raise the bar for para athletes, in addition to developing policies to foster and uphold an inclusive and diverse program.
It is a just reward for the dedication shown by the members of the team, who have are always striving to aim higher and continue to advance.
This leads to the Jackaroos being nominated for Team of the Year following their blistering World Championships campaign on the Gold Coast, securing five gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
Each member of the selected team left Queensland with a medal and represented their country with high distinction across a history making fortnight.
Earlier in the year, Australia acquired a combined seven gold medals at the Multi Nations, the prelude to August’s showpiece event.
Additionally, the green and gold contingent netted four silver medals and five bronze in what was a truly dominant week on the Gold Coast.
Jake Fehlberg’s magnificent year has also raised the eyebrows of the judging panel, with the Commonwealth and World Champion nominated for Male Para-athlete of the Year.
The Queenslander took home a silver with Jacky Hudson in the Multi Nations final against May Homer and Herman Scholtz of South Africa, before avenging that defeat to reverse the result in an epic World Championships final at Helensvale.
In tasting gold, Fehlberg became the first para-bowler to enjoy Commonwealth Games and World Bowls Championships success, etching his name into the history books once again.
Finally, Para Jackaroo Serena Bonnell has been recognised for her community work as a finalist for the Community Engagement Award.
The Queenslander is a driver of inclusivity and has long says that she sees bowls as a vehicle to create a more inclusive community.
Bonnell became an AIS Thrive With Pride ambassador and helped organise the Rainbow Versatility Pairs event at her home club of Club Tweed.
The 41-year-old is a pioneer for the sport and continues to undertake wonderful work within the community.
BA wishes to congratulate all of the nominees and wishes the contingent the best of luck on the awards night, to be held on November 29.
BA Australian Sports Performance Awards (ASPAs) finalists
- Jake Fehlberg – Male Para-Athlete of the Year
- Serena Bonnell – Athlete Community Engagement
- BA’s HP program – High Performance Program of the Year
- Gary Willis – Leadership Award
- Jackaroos – Team of the Year
View all of the nominees HERE
