20 September 2019
Top award for The Parks at YMCA awards night
The best of the best for 2018-19 were acknowledged at the YMCA South Australia staff awards on Friday, 13 September, with The Parks Recreation and Sports Centre named as the YMCA of the Year.
Through high quality programs and services, community engagement, financial sustainability and alignment with the YMCA values The Parks has delivered outstanding performance in the local and wider community.
Highlights over the year include:
- Direct visitation growth of 19% to 38,579
- 23% membership growth with numbers reaching more than 1300
- Over 700 members of the Learn to Swim program
- A favourable budget result of over $300K
- The launch of Virtual Fitness, 24/7 gym and Reciprocal Rights with the new St Clair Recreation Centre
In a double victory for the centre, Duty Manager Ryan Axon was also named as the Outstanding Contribution by a Young Employee award winner. This award recognises a young person who is making an outstanding contribution to their centre or program and in turn contributing to the success of YMCA South Australia.
Other highlights of the night included an emotion-filled tribute to JMC Leap Takers coordinator Judith Jamieson, who was posthumously awarded the George Williams Employee of the Year. Judith passed away early this year after a battle with cancer.
In a fitting post-script the JMC Leap Takers, now run by Judith’s protégé Austin Magee, was also awarded the Program of the Year.
The annual event recognises the outstanding individual and organisational efforts over the past 12 months and is highly valued as a chance for staff teams from across the state to meet, engage and celebrate their common commitment and dedication to the work done by YMCA South Australia.
Whyalla Recreation Centre stalwart Rae Watson won Volunteer of the Year and a double for The Valleys Lifestyle Centre included Hannah Salter named as Emerging Leader of the Year and Deb Noble taking out the Community Connections Award.
Other award recipients were: YMCA Glengowrie Gym Sports – Diversity and Inclusion award, Elyse Pitman (Flaxmill OSHC) - Children’s Programs award and Travis Beard (St Clair) - Outstanding Achievement in Recreational Activities award.
The evening was hosted by YMCA South Australia CEO Haydn Robins and featured an address by Board member Warren Hall who has been involved with the YMCA for 30 years.
