The Volunteer of the Year Award is one of the most competitive and sought-after awards at the Australian Sailing Awards each year. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our sport, and this is one way the community can actively celebrate just a small section of our 11,000-strong sailing volunteer community. 

This Award is intended to recognise an individual, club or class association who has made a significant voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing. The winner is someone known for their good character and for displaying good sportsmanship. 

Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron’s Felicia Brown won the Volunteer of the Year Award at this year’s Victorian Sailing Awards for her lifetime of volunteering for her club, class, community and governing body. 

Over the past season alone, Felicia has taken on the role of regatta manager for four of our five regattas; the BYS Women's Sportsboat Regatta, the BYS Interclub Youth Regatta, Petersville Regatta and the International Musto Skiff Victorian Championships. This involved many long days at the club for the duration of each regatta and numerous hours during the planning and de-brief stages. 

Felicia was also a driving force behind the "Sailing Journeys" dinner with a panel of inspirational female sailors held during the women's regatta, and has recently re-joined both the Sailing Committee and the Regattas Sub-Committee. 

When asked why Felicia contributes to the sport she replied, "volunteering over the years has allowed me to give back to a sport I love; to maintain friendships that go back to teenage years, whilst meeting so many new and interesting people over time." 

Felicia Brown

Henley Sailing Club’s current Treasurer and Sail Training Principal, Sarah Cooper, has notched over two and a half decades of continuous service as a volunteer and is an unsung heroine to the sailing community.  

At Club level, Sarah is not only an executive member of Henley Sailing Club as Treasurer, but is the Sail Training Principal, Web Master and Social Media guru. She also serves on the executive committee of the Int. 505 YRA Assoc of Australian at a National level, and club representative for the IODASSA committee. 

As Sail Training Principal, Sarah ensures the Club maintains ongoing compliance with the Australian Sailing Discover Sailing Centre accreditation, ensuring both equipment used and policy procedure related documentation is current and relevant. 

Sarah’s passion and commitment to the Club, its members, and the sailing community in general for not just the last 12 months, but during the past two decades are undeniable. 

Sarah Cooper

Anton Mann’s tireless dedication, exceptional leadership, and selfless commitment to the sport of sailing have left an indelible mark on the Geographe Bay Yacht Club and the broader sailing community. 

Anton consistently goes above and beyond his volunteer roles, demonstrating an unwavering passion for sailing. Whether it is a regatta or regular club activities, Anton is the first to arrive and the last to leave. As the Commodore of Geographe Bay Yacht Club and the Principal of the Discover Sailing Centre, he dedicates countless hours to running learn-to-sail programs for both junior and senior sailors. His efforts not only ensure the profitability of the club but also foster the growth and development of new sailing enthusiasts. 

Anton embodies the true spirit of volunteerism and dedication to sailing. His tireless efforts, exceptional leadership, and unwavering commitment have made a profound impact on the Geographe Bay Yacht Club and the wider sport of sailing. 

Anton Mann 

The winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award will be announced at the 2023 Australian Sailing Awards on November 3. For more information on the Awards including a full list of finalists, click here.