WATER POLO AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES ANNUAL AWARDS IN SYDNEY

The Water Polo Australia community has come together to celebrate the 2025 Annual Awards in Sydney.

Designed to recognise the contributions and achievements of players, coaches, officials and volunteers at both a community and high performance level, the Water Polo Australia Awards are an opportunity to reflect on the past season and celebrate successes.

After being announced in late 2024, Olympic gold medalist Deb Watson and Olympian Don Cameron were officially presented with their Life Membership.

Four new members were inducted into the WPA Hall of Fame, a group of remarkable individuals who have demonstrated excellence, dedication and passion, earning them a place in the prestigious Hall of Fame.

The Late Harry Quittner was the first member inducted into the Hall of Fame - a visionary leader and passionate advocate for water polo who shaped the foundation of Australian Water Polo as we know it today. 

Quittner served as the inaugural president of the Australian Water Polo Association from 1982 to 1993 and later the Honorary Life President until his passing in 2014.

Four-time Olympians Bron Knox and Rhys Howden were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Knox, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and the highest capped female water polo player in history, enjoyed a 16 year international career where she captained the Aussie Stingers, competed in professional leagues in Europe and the USA and won multiple World Cup and World Championships medals.

Howden is one of Australia' s most accomplished male water polo players - debuting for the Aussie Sharks in 2007, winning World Cup silver and amassing over 700 goals in 22 season in the Australian Waterpolo League.

The fourth member inducted into the Hall of Fame is Patricia Jones, a trailblazer for women’s water polo in Australia. With decades of service as a player, referee, administrator and advocate, Pat played a key role in securing women’s water polo’s historic inclusion in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Water Polo Australia CEO Tim Welsford offered his congratulations to the newest Life Members and Hall of Fame inductees.

“Tonight we’re proud to celebrate six legends of our sport, as the newest Life Members and inductees into the prestigious Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame.

“Deb, Don, Harry, Bron, Rhys and Pat have all achieved excellence in water polo, both in and out of the pool, and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to celebrate their successes tonight,” he said.

The Water Polo Australia Awards also offered the opportunity to celebrate the grassroots level of the sport, all the way through to our Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers.

Cronulla Water Polo Club’s Jodie Pritchard was honoured with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Jodie was nominated by multiple individuals, which shows how integral she is at Cronulla Water Polo Club.

Wagga Wagga Water Polo Club was named as the 2025 Club of the Year, presented by KAP7 Australia.

The Official of the Year Award went to Australia’s Paris 2024 Olympic referee Nick Hodgers.

Olympic silver medalist Keesja Gofers was presented the 2025 Outstanding Achievement Athlete, while Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Head Coach Bec Rippon was announced as the 2025 Performance Coach of the Year.

Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks Olympian Nic Porter was named the 2025 Ord Minnett Male Senior Athlete of the Year, and Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Olympian Alice Williams took out the 2025 Ord Minnett Female Senior Athlete of the Year.