Eden Brown named as Beau Bere Award recipient

Eden Brown has been announced as the newest recipient of the AUF’s Beau Bere Award.

Eden was recognized for her contribution to underwater hockey in New South Wales, Victoria and Australia at both the development and representative level.

Eden Brown (right) with the 2016 Masters Women’s World Championship cup.

In her local club, the University of Wollongong UWH club, she often runs training sessions for the promising junior athletes that attend club nights. She has been selected as the chaperone for the NSW U19s boy’s and girl’s teams attending nationals on the Gold Coast in January 2017.

Starting playing in Drouin, Victoria, Eden has gone on to achieve numerous state and national selections. She has been a valuable representative for the NSW and Victorian Elite Women’s teams for many years. In recent years, she helped the NSW team to 4 consecutive grand finals, coming away with silver on each occasion. Eden was also awarded the MVP award in a losing side in the 2017 year’s Elite Women’s final at Nationals on the Gold Coast.

Her representative honours also extend to the international stage. Eden first represented Australia at the World Championships in Paris in 1994. She is still participating at that level having won gold in the Masters Women’s division at the 2016 World Championships in Stellenbosch, South Africa in March. That feat was achieved while coaching the Australian Elite women’s team.

The AUF noted that Eden’s attributes in both playing and developing the game made her an ideal candidate for the AUF Beau Bere Award.

 

Steve Dunn wins AUF Beau Beere Award

Victorian Underwater Hockey stalwart Steve Dunn was recently announced as the 2013 recipient of the Australian Underwater Federation’s Beau Beere Award.

Named after a prominent sports administrator, the award is bestowed to the person considered to have done the most for the advancement of underwater sports in Australia during the previous twelve months. A long term resident of Inverloch in South Eastern Victoria, Steve was recognised for his contribution to Underwater Hockey and especially for his junior development work.

Steve’s association with the sport goes back to the opening of the Wonthaggi indoor pool in 1980. As a member of the South Gippsland Dive Club and the South Eastern Area Board Rider’s Club he suggested that the two clubs play one another in a game of Underwater Hockey. He played with the eventual victors of that foundation game, the Board Riders team.

After more than thirty years he is still actively involved. In that time he has served as President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Wonthaggi Underwater Hockey club.

Steve Dunn receives the 2013 Beau Beere Award.

Steve Dunn receives the 2013 Beau Beere Award.

The award was announced by the Federal President of the Australian Underwater Federation, Graham Henderson, who acknowledged Steve’s long and dedicated service, “He has held numerous administrative positions over the years along with huge input into the promotion of juniors into the Club and sport.”

“Steve is to be congratulated for all his achievements. His nomination showed the respect, consideration and esteem with which he is held,” said Mr Henderson.

Steve was presented his award at a function held at the Wonthaggi pool after the final club game for the year. The current president of the Wonthaggi Underwater Hockey club, Kevin Chisholm, said it was well-deserved recognition, “It is great to see Steve being acknowledged at a national level. He has had an enormous influence sport of Underwater Hockey, not just here in the local area but across Victoria and Australia.”

“Steve’s enduring legacy is getting so many kids involved. He had a huge influence on my development within the sport and literally hundreds of people have played Underwater Hockey as a result of his passion. He teaches young kids about the importance of commitment and discipline. He instils a respect for fair play in everyone he teaches,” said Mr. Chisholm.

After all these years, Steve’s passion for Underwater Hockey hasn’t waned. Week after week, he attends the regular Thursday night session at the Wonthaggi pool. There, he puts the junior players through their paces before joining the adults for their game. Steve is the only foundation member still actively involved in the club.

When deliberating the nominations the federal board considered the future effects of the contribution made to the sport and the benefit to others achieved through nominee’s activities. Steve’s hard work certainly fulfils both criteria. His efforts have helped Wonthaggi become one of the most successful clubs in Victoria and the biggest producer of junior players in the state. Over the years dozens players have gone on to represent Victoria and Australia.

Not content with his contribution to date, Steve is busy preparing another crop of junior players who will travel to the Gold Coast in late January. There, they will compete in the Australian National Championships and Underwater Hockey will continue to benefit from Steve’s passion and dedication.