2024 AOE GALA DINNER
21 May 2024 | Victory Room Marvel Stadium
6:30pm – 10:30pm
Cocktail Attire
Mark your calendars for the social event of the year!
The 2024 PLA VIC/TAS Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner will be held in the Victory Room at Marvel Stadium. Enjoy the spectacular views of Victoria Harbour from the outdoor promenade as we celebrate the outstanding initiatives and innovative efforts of our industry.
Pre-dinner drinks from 6:30pm with the Awards ceremony to commence at 7:00pm.
MEET YOUR HOST
Brett Phillips is a leading tennis commentator and long time supporter of PLA. Host of SEN’s The First Serve, a dedicated two hour weekly radio show, covering the world of tennis from the elite to the grass roots here in Australia and abroad.
Brett is also a host of Channel 9’s French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Brisbane International and Adelaide International TV coverage as well as being the big screens host for Tennis Australia at the Australian Open.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY CHRISTIE
Christie Barbecues is an Australian family-owned public barbecue manufacturer. We have focused exclusively on providing the safest, most reliable and sustainable products for over fifty years. Our reputation for value and quality makes us the leader in public barbecue technology. Our products are the best in the category and provide a superior cooking experience.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
Each year, PLA acknowledges excellence in our industry through its prestigious Awards of Excellence. These annual awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding initiatives and innovative efforts of ‘the people behind the places’ which promote good use of leisure time for a number of social, environmental and economic benefits to the community.
For more information head to our dedicated national Awards of Excellence website.
This award seeks to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions made by a student or emerging professional (under 30 years of age) in a course of study leading to a nationally recognised qualification in the sector throughout Australia or who has made a significant contribution to the parks and leisure industry.
This award is designed to recognise the combined effort that is required to successfully plan, organise and manage effective initiatives, projects, programs, events and/or festivals which promote and enhance leisure time for a number of social, environmental and economic benefits to the community. Evidence of success should form a component of the submission.
This award celebrates and acknowledges those who protect nature and parks, improve climate resilience, ensure sustainability, and care for our land, as well as champions in all of these areas as part of this award. Awarded to an individual, a team, or an organisation for the development of innovative processes, practices, or technologies that contribute to the development of a sustainable future. Developing and implementing a sustainable approach to economic, social, and environmental concerns should be integrated into all core activities in addition to complying with industry standards and best practices. Those responsible for subordinate strategies to an institution’s overarching strategic plan are not included in this category.
Proudly sponsored by
@leisure is a sports, aquatic, open space planning consultancy with more than 30 years of experience. We provide rigorous strategies, business cases, feasibility studies and facility plans that are market tested and practical to implement. Our staff with sport, planning, and business backgrounds provide excellent service and good value for money. |
This award recognises the development of strategies for parks, open space, sport, recreation and leisure opportunities by rewarding outstanding examples of strategic planning that have enriched and revitalised a community.
Proudly sponsored by
WillPlay is an Australian manufacturer of play and fitness equipment with an extensive range of products to suit all size projects and budgets. Using premium materials such as aluminium, stainless steel and recycled plastics, WillPlay offers world class quality in a cost effective package. WillPlay’s custom design capabilities can bring your next project to life and create a true destination experience for all users. |
This community facility award recognises facilities that demonstrate innovative features of design, development and operation.
Proudly sponsored by
insideEDGE passionately supports communities to enhance sport, leisure, and recreation programs and services. Our mission is to drive more thoughtful decision-making regarding investment in community infrastructure, ultimately leading to increased participation and improved facility utilisation. Through our work, we aim to foster stronger connections between communities, sports, and government, creating a more vibrant and engaged environment for all. |
This award celebrates and promotes vibrant, successful well designed and managed new or significantly revitalised parks/ open spaces by recognising and rewarding exceptional examples of best practice in terms of design and management. This includes parks and open spaces that are large, small, linear, along transport corridors, road closures, foreshore and reclaimed urban spaces.
Proudly sponsored by
An industry leader in the production, sale and distribution of premium instant turf and lawns for life. They are one of the nation’s largest growers of premium drought-tolerant, water smart turfgrass varieties and are regarded amongst the most efficient and technologically advanced turfgrass operations in the world. Coolabah Turf are passionate about the turf and lawn industry and the power their people and products have to make a positive impact on people’s lives. |
This award is given to a playspace under the value of $500,000 that involves a range of stakeholders, contributes to the creation of a sense of ‘place’ for its local community and exhibits landscape and/or structural design innovation that delights and aids childhood development.
Proudly sponsored by
Shade N Sails is an Australian company that specialises in designing manufacturing and installing shade products. The company was established in 1999 to provide durable shade products for both the domestic and commercial markets. With over 150 years of combined industry experience and a focus on exceptional customer service and communication they have grown rapidly servicing both the Australian and global markets, offering a wide range of solutions. |
This award is given to a playspace over the value of $500,000 that involves a range of stakeholders, contributes to the creation of a sense of ‘place’ for its local community and exhibits landscape and/or structural design innovation that delights and aids childhood development.
Proudly sponsored by
Ground Science is a multi-disciplinary geotechnical consultancy company, that specializes in all forms of sports field profile design and engineering. A leading consultancy in this space they service clients Nationally and Internationally. Their designs focus on leading technology with sustainability in mind and provide niche expertise. |
Regional/Rural Australia includes all of the towns, small cities and areas that lie beyond the major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra), who make a significant contribution through community initiatives which contribute to the parks and leisure industry. These projects can be playspaces, events, tourism, trails, programs, repurposing of facilities and environmental initiatives (ie. water saving, habitat development and restoration projects).
This award acknowledges outstanding research achievement by a group or individual, professionals, student or academics who have made a significant contribution to the parks and leisure industry through expanded knowledge enhancement promoting the benefits or importance of the parks and leisure sector in Australian society.
Proudly sponsored by
Endeavour Turf Professionals are one Australia’s leading sports field design and turf agronomy consultancies. For over 17 years, our expert team of designers, consultants and agronomists have been working with Local Government Authorities and the professional turf industry designing and improving natural turf surfaces. |
This award acknowledges outstanding and innovative achievement in the area of technology application and how that application has benefited the industry.
Proudly sponsored by
GreenLife Group is a national leader in property services and open space management. GLG delivers a wide range of integrated commercial landscape, horticultural and environmental services that include property and ground maintenance, sports turf, arboriculture, and development of sustainable solutions. With more than 27 years of industry experience, GLG is a dedicated open space specialist. |
