Celebrating Victoria’s top-achieving sportspeople
The Victoria Blues Awards are the highest recognition that can be given to people who have, by their sporting achievements or contribution to sport, brought credit to the University.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford, with VUWSA President Rory Lenihan-Ikin, presented awards to 42 athletes and administrators and commended all the recipients for their dedication and success.
Marine Biology student Tilali Scanlan was named Sportsperson of the Year and Pasifika Sportsperson of the Year.
The 17-year-old swimmer competed at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest in July. She is the sole representative of her native country, American Samoa, on the international swimming stage.
Tilali, who has carried out much of her training in the Pacific Ocean due to the lack of a pool in American Samoa, placed 36th in the 200 metre breaststroke and 51st in the 100 metre breaststroke. She also holds an impressive five national records for American Samoa.
Kimiora Poi (Ngāti Porou) was named Māori Sportsperson of the Year.
While studying towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Criminology and Te Reo Māori, Kimiora has been a representative of the New Zealand Under 21 netball team, which competed in the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup in July. The team secured back-to-back titles by beating Australia 60-57 in the final.
The 19-year-old midcourter was also a member of the Central team that won the gold medal in the national development Beko Netball League. Kimiora was recently selected for the Mainland Tactix squad for 2018.
Maddie Palmer was named Sports Administrator of the Year.
Maddie, who is completing a Master in Landscape Architecture, was president of Victoria’s Rowing Club for the 2016/17 season. She has been instrumental in raising over $22,000 for the club, implementing a code of conduct for members and organising successful recruitment campaigns for the men’s and women’s teams. The 22-year-old also initiated the organisation of the club's upcoming 90th Jubilee Gala and a programme to connect with alumni.
The 2017 Victoria University Blues Award recipients:
Sportsperson of the Year and Pasifika Sportsperson of the Year
- Tilali Scanlan for swimming
Māori Sportspersons of the Year
- Kimiora Poi for netball
Sports Administrator of the Year
- Maddie Palmer for rowing
Blue Awards
- Alicia Print
- Ellie McManaway
- Emilina Motu
- Emma Fell
- Esther Chan
- Felix Boyce
- Hannah Williams
- Harison Manks
- Harry Burnard
- Hugh Renton
- Jaan Turia
- Joanah Ngan-Woo
- Jack Gallagher
- Joanna Judge
- Joshua De Reeper
- Kimiora Poi
- Lauren Fargher
- Libby Bradley
- Lisa Yue
- Lucy Bird
- Luke Naylor
- Luke Ireland
- Mohsen Maddah
- Monica Tagoai
- Nick Henderson
- Nicola Robbins
- Reed Prinsep
- Ruby Muir
- Ruby Willis
- Samantha Lee
- Tilali Scanlan
- Timothy Farrell
- Yazzmine Woodhouse
Sports Administration Blue Awards
- Aleksa Djorovic
- Baylee Mitchell
- Brook Walker
- Maddie Palmer
- Maddy Nash
- Oscar Battell-Wallace
- Richard Boag
- Sarah Jackson
- Shakked Noy