On Wednesday April 2, JCU Sport & Recreation hosted their JCU Sport Blues Awards which recognises outstanding sporting achievements from JCU Students throughout 2024. 

Blues Awards are broken into two groups – Blue & Half Blue.

• Blue – Students who have participated at a state or national level with distinction.

• Half Blue – Students who have participated at a high level with distinction including local or state.

A record number of students received with 32 students received awards including a record 25 students who received a half-blue and 7 who received a full Blue. 

In addition to these awards, JCU Sport & Recreation also handed out the JCU Spirit of Sport Award which recognizes the commitment and involvement in our programs, Small Club of the Year, Club of the Year, Team of the Year and JCU Sportsperson of the Year. 

Here are the following award recipients:

JCU Sportsperson of the Year & Blue Award Recipient – Thomas Beddome:  Cycling

Thomas is currently studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at JCU.  Thomas in 2024 was JCU’s first ever male athlete in cycling to compete at UniSport Nationals.  In the time trial, Thomas claimed Gold for JCU finishing 8 seconds faster than second place.  Thomas also claimed a silver medal in the Road Race for JCU and finished 9th in the Criterium.  Overall, JCU finished 3rd in the team pennant despite being the only JCU competitor.  Thomas was also part of the lawn bowls team claiming a silver medal. 

Blue Award Recipient – Harriet Trubshaw:  Triathlon

Harriet is currently studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at JCU.  Harriet competed at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships held in Townsville.  In the Women’s 20-24 age group competition, Harriet came first in the cross triathlon event as well as third in the Triathlon Aquabike Championships.  Harriet also competed in the Cairns 70.3 Iron Man competition finishing 6th in the 18-24 age bracket. 

Blue Award Recipient – Charlise Falconer:  Touch Football

Charlise is currently studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at JCU.  As an official for Touch Football, Charlise officiated at the 2024 Touch Football National Championships in Coffs Harbour.  This included officiating the Women’s Open B Grand Final competition.  Charlise also was then selected to officiate at the Touch Football World Cup that was held in Nottingham England. 

Blue Award Recipient – Murray Macpherson:  Adventure Sport/Running

Murray is currently studying a Bachelor of Dentistry at JCU in Cairns.  In 2024, Murray competed in the Adventure 1 Iron Bound Competition in Malaysia where his team finished 1st in the competition.  Outside of that competition, Murray also finished 1st in the Grin and Bear It event, 1st in Ona Mission Multisport Race and 1st in his age group and 11th overall in the Cairns Marathon. 

Blue Award Recipient – Jennifer Fotinos:  Futsal

Jennifer is currently studying a Bachelor of Education Secondary at JCU.  Jennifer was part of the JCU Women’s Futsal team that won a silver medal at UniSport Nationals in Canberra.  After winning a Silver Medal, Jennifer then represented Australia in the Youth Women’s Futsal team in the UK winning the Scottish Cup in Edinburgh.  Outside of Futsal, Jennifer also was part of the MA Olympic team that won the Minor Premiership in the Townsville Premier League and the FQPL Champions League where they were the regional champions and was also selected in the Queensland Boxing team. 

Blue Award Recipient – Anjeleah Corrigan:  Rugby 7s

Anjeleah is currently studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at JCU.  In the sport of Rugby 7s, Anjeleah was selected in the University Women’s Rugby 7s Rising Star Squad.  Anjeleah was then selected in the Australian side to compete at the FISU World University Championship Rugby 7s in Aix-en-Provence, France where Australia finished in Fourth Place.  Anjeleah was also part of the JCU Women’s Rugby 7s team that won a bronze medal at UniSport Nationals in Canberra last year.  Anjeleah was also part of the JCU side that reclaimed the JCU Commander’s Cup against the Army. 

Blue Award Recipient – Isla Hawkins:  Triathlon

Isla is studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at JCU.  Isla competed in the 2024 World Triathlon Multisport Championships which were held in Townsville.  Isla competed in the 20-24 age group where she finished 2nd in the competition. 

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Amanda Baker:  Futsal & Rugby 7s

Amanda studied a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at JCU.  In 2024, Amanda was a multisport participant at UniSport Nationals in both Rugby 7s and futsal.  Amanda was part of the JCU women’s rugby 7s team that claimed a Bronze medal at the competition.  Amanda then turned her focus to futsal where she was a key player in helping the team win a Silver Medal at the competition.  Amanda was also a part of the JCU Uni v Army event in 2024 claiming wins in women’s soccer and rugby 7s. 

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Lily Bradshaw:  Rugby 7s & Lawn Bowls

Lily studied a Bachelor of Business at JCU.  At UniSport Nationals in 2024, Lily competed across two sports in Rugby 7s and Lawn Bowls.  During the event in Canberra, Lily spent the first couple of days being a key player in the women’s rugby 7s side helping the JCU team win the Bronze medal at the competition.  After the rugby 7s competition concluded, Lily then was part of the mixed Lawn Bowls team that would go on to claim a silver medal in the event.  Lily also played in the Uni v Army event where the team was able to reclaim the JCU Commander’s Cup trophy.  

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Tahnee Marshall:  Hockey

Tahnee is currently studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at JCU.  In 2024, Tahnee was part of the Commercials Hockey Club in Division 1 where the team was Minor Premiers.  Whilst also playing for Commercials, Tahnee was also the leading goal scorer in the competition.  Tahnee was then selected to represent Townsville in the Open Women’s Queensland State Championship in May.  From there, Tahnee was selected to represent the Queensland Country side competing at the Queensland Country Championships. 

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Shannon Perry:  AFL

Shannon Perry is currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at JCU.  In her debut season in AFL for the University Hawks, Shannon won the club’s Best and Fairest Award.  In addition to winning the Club’s Best and Fairest, Shannon would also be selected in AFL Townsville’s Team of the Year.

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Jessica Lawrie:  Beach Volleyball

Jessica is currently studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at JCU.  Jessica competed at UniSport Nationals in women’s pairs beach volleyball.  Alongside her partner 2022 Blue Recipient Irish Espanola competed throughout the week in Canberra.  Jessica and Irish finished second in the group stage before making the bronze medal match where they defeated the University of Melbourne to claim third place.

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Carmen Ritter:  Trail & Marathon Running

Carmen is currently studying a Masters Marine Biology at JCU.  Carmen competed across a variety of races in 2024.  In the Outer Limits Adventure Series, she finished first in the female category in the Cape Pallarenda 21km race.  Carmen also finished 5th overall.  She also placed first at the Elliot’s Revenge 12km race finishing 7th overall and 1st in the female category in the Two Bays 21km race.  Carmen also competed in the Townsville Marathon finishing third in the women’s division 19th overall, competed in the Schneck Forest 10km Trail Race in the USA finishing first and fourth overall and competed in the Nashville Marathon placing 8th in the female category and 38th overall. 

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Aquila Fisher, Esther Harm, Genya Doherty, Lucy Lloyd-Morgan, Piper Godfrey, Rebecca George, Rochelle Meyer, Sinead Rowe, Talia Bulstrode & Zoe Branch:  Rugby 7s

The team featuring Aquila Fisher, Esther Harm, Genya Doherty, Lucy Lloyd-Morgan, Piper Godfrey, Rebecca George, Rochelle Meyer, Sinead Rowe, Talia Bulstrode and Zoe Branch were part of the Women’s Rugby 7s side that competed at UniSport Nationals in Canberra last year.  The team made it to the Bronze Medal match where they defeated the University of Newcastle to secure third place and the Bronze Medal. 

Half-Blue Award Recipient – Ellie Brown, Jennifer Gulson, Nadia Chapman, Stephanie Luyt & Taya Paganoni:  Futsal

The team featuring Ellie Brown, Jennifer Gulson, Nadia Chapman, Stephanie Luyt and Taya Paganoni were part of the JCU Women’s Futsal team that competed at UniSport Nationals in Canberra last year.  The team grew stronger and stronger throughout the tournament which saw them defeat the University of Melbourne in the Quarter Finals and the University of Sunshine Coast in the Semi-Finals to compete in the Gold Medal Match.  Despite the loss, the team secured a Silver medal for JCU. 

Half-Blue Award Recipient – EAnthony Reppel, Julian Sewell, Lukas Browne & Riley Bacchiella:  Lawn Bowls

The team featuring Anthony Reppel, Julian Sewell, Lukas Browne and Riley Bacchiella were part of the JCU Lawn Bowls side that competed at UniSport Nationals in Canberra last year.  The after competing through two rounds of competition, the JCU side were able to defeat Charles Sturt University in the Semi-Finals to make it to the Gold Medal match.  Unfortunately the team went down to the University of NSW in the Final however the side still secured the Silver Medal. 

JCU Indigenous Sportsperson of the Year – Jennifer Gulson:  Futsal

Jennifer was not only part of the JCU women’s futsal team at UniSport Nationals last year but she was also part of the JCU Indigenous Nationals team that competed in Wollongong.  After hiatus of not competing in 2023, Jennifer volunteered a large number of hours to ensure that JCU returned to the event in 2024.  Jennifer helped build a culture within the team that not only gave their best efforts but also showed the spirit that embodies Indigenous Nationals. 

JCU Spirit of Sport Award – Julian Sewell

Julian was heavily involved in Lawn Bowls throughout 2024.  As a key member of the JCU Lawn Bowls team, Julian helped organize the team in preparation for UniSport Nationals. Julian worked closely with various bowls clubs around Townsville to get the JCU team prepared for the event.  The time and effort to complete this also got the lawn bowls community get around and support the JCU Lawn Bowls team.  Without the organization of the lawn bowls team, UniSport Australia would not have been able to have the Lawn Bowls competition go ahead.  The team would go on to win Silver at the competition in Canberra.Outside of lawn bowls, Julian has also heavily been involved in various sports on campus for JCU including basketball and netball as well as playing weekly for the University Hawks club in the AFL competition and Saints Cricket Club. 

JCU Small Club of the Year – JCU Cairns Volleyball Club

A new club that was started in 2024, the JCU Cairns Volleyball Club was created to bring together like minded students who have an interest in volleyball.  A new but enthusiastic club has been able to organize weekly volleyball competitions at Newman Catholic College in Smithfield to help build a thriving club on the Cairns Campus. 

JCU Club of the Year – Riverway JCU Football Club

The Riverway JCU Football Club continues to grow year by year with 7 senior teams and 19 junior teams competing across the Townsville competition in 2024.  The club continued to be part of JCU Sport & Recreation programs including Winna Shield and JCU Uni v Army.  Riverway JCU Football Club have also improved their football status as a club as they were one of the first clubs in Regional Queensland to achieve a Tier 2 Football Queensland Badge which allows them to run a club academy at JCU as well as 1 Star Club Changer Status from Football Australia for their Women’s and Girls Program. 

JCU Coach of the Year – Olivia Lindsay:  Volleyball

Studying a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.  Olivia spent a significant amount of time coaching various beach and indoor volleyball teams.  The 2022 Half-Blue Recipient coached the North Queensland Women’s side in the QLD Beach Volleyball tournament as well as being an assistant coach for the U18 Girls at the same tournament.  In addition, she coached the North Queensland ADF Men’s National Volleyball team at the 2024 ADF Volleyball Combined Services Tournament.  She was then selected to be the ADF Men’s National Indoor Coach to run their training camp and lead the team at the Good Neighbour Volleyball tournament in Canberra.  Olivia was the first female coach of the ADF Men’s National team since the 1980s.  Outside of these competitions, she also coached and developed the volleyball the ADF NQ Men’s & Women’s teams, coached several sessions at Monsoons Volleyball Club and was an assistant coach for the Minions Volleyball Club in Cairns. 

JCU Coach of the Year – Matthew Yee:  Futsal

Matthew Yee from the NQ Football of Excellence coached the Women’s Futsal team at UniSport Nationals in Canberra.  Matthew was able to build a great team culture and chemistry to ensure that not only they played well on the court, but also showed great fair play across the tournament which allowed JCU to medal at the competition. 

JCUSA Team of the Year – JCU Women’s Futsal Team

For the first time since 2014, JCU sent a women’s futsal team to compete in Canberra.  The team consisting of Amanda Baker, Ellie Brown, Jennifer Fotinos, Jennifer Gulson, Nadia Chapman, Stephanie Luyt and Taya Paganoni had an amazing tournament for JCU.  Throughout the tournament, the team got stronger and stronger beating powerhouse universities including Australian Catholic University, Western Sydney University, the University of Melbourne in the quarter finals and the University of Sunshine Coast to get into the gold medal match.  Whilst they went down to the University of Technology Sydney, JCU still claimed not only the silver medal but were also the people’s champions. 

Congratulations to all award recipients. Article source: 2024 JCU Sport Blues Awards Recipients & Winners | JCU Student Association

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