Minister's Message
The Brumby Government is committed to encouraging students to lead a healthy and active lifestyle and promoting physical education in schools.
The Brumby Government's 'Go for your life' campaign is aimed at promoting healthy eating and increasing physical activity among victorians, placing us as a national leader in promoting healthy living. See, Go for your life (www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au)
We are also leading the way with mandated sport and physical education in primary and secondary schools, grants to install bicycle sheds to encourage more students to ride to school, extra sports equipment and joint-use sporting facilities.
The 14th annual Victorian School Sports Awards recognised the exceptional sporting achievements of 33 of our Victorian government school students.
Awards were presented during a prestigious ceremony held on Friday 7 March 2008 at the MCG. This special event honoured primary and secondary students who excelled in their chosen sport at regional, State, national and even international levels. A broad range of sports categories were recognised; from taekwondo and cricket to athletics and swimming.
Many previous winners have gone on to achieve great sporting fame. Previous award winners include Jessica Bibby from the Australian Opals, Cameron White from the Victorian Bushrangers and AFL sporting heroes Anthony Rocca, Josh Fraser and more recently Dale Thomas.
Sporting greats such as these are tremendously passionate about their sport as well as being physically and mentally dedicated to achieving great success. It is these same attributes that students need to possess to be considered for the Victorian School Sports Awards.
There are also many unsung heroes who contribute to an individual’s sporting success including their families, schools, teachers, coaches and volunteers. It is for this reason that two of the four awards categories will recognise some of these outstanding people.
Let’s praise people who inspire their school peers and are examples of how a love of sport contributes to the development of healthy young lives.
Hon Bronwyn Pike MP
Minister for Education