2025 Awards

Good evening everyone, and thank you for joining us to celebrate another remarkable year at Fairfield Canoe Club. Tonight is our opportunity to reflect on the effort, commitment, and achievements of our members across 2025. It has been a year of exceptional performances, strong club spirit, and continued growth.

Szigeti Medal

We begin with the Szigeti Medal, the club’s highest honour, awarded for outstanding racing performance and consistency across the year. This year, the strength of our junior paddlers has been extraordinary, and the Board has chosen to to award two Szigeti Medals — each fully deserved.

Szigeti Medal Winner: Bradley Buissink

Bradley has had an exceptional year. He claimed gold in the U18 K1 at the 2025 New Zealand & Oceania Marathon Championships, becoming both National and Oceania Marathon Champion. At the National Championships he achieved 1st place in both the U18 Men's Long Course and Short Course, confirming his dominance.

Bradley also represented Australia internationally, competed across the sprint season in GP1, GP2, the National Sprint Championships, and the Victorian Championships, and continued to perform strongly in local events. Beyond his racing, he has contributed enormously as a junior coach, mentoring the next generation of FCC paddlers.
A superb year, Bradley — congratulations.

Szigeti Medal Winner: Axel Tan

Our second Szigeti Medal recipient, Axel Tan, has built an extraordinary record across sprint and marathon paddling in 2025.

Axel was selected for the U16 Australian Team at the Asia Pacific Sprint Cup in Komatsu, Japan, where he took 1st place in both the K1-1000m and the K4-500m. At the 2025 National Sprint Championships, he claimed multiple medals including:

• 1st in U16 K1-1000m
• 1st in U16 K4-500m
• 2nd in U16 Mix K2-500m
• 3rd in U16 K1-500m
• 3rd in U16 K1-200m

His strong form continued at GP2, where he again won the U16 K1-1000m, with additional podiums in the 500m and 200m. At the Victorian Sprint Championships, Axel achieved an extraordinary haul of six gold medals and one silver, including a silver in the U18 MK1 1000m.

He also met the selection criteria for the U18 Men’s K1 Long Course for the 2025 World Marathon Championships — an impressive milestone — although he did not take up the position due to travel constraints.

Axel’s consistent excellence, maturity, and sportsmanship make him an outstanding and deserving recipient of the Szigeti Medal.

Please join me in congratulating both Bradley and Axel on an astonishing year of paddling achievement.

Winter Series Awards

These awards recognise consistent participation and strong performance throughout the Winter Marathon Series. This year’s recipients demonstrated dedication, resilience, and steady improvement.

• Elizabeth Lee
• Bradley Buissink
• Serena Lee

Congratulations to each of you for your contribution to a successful Winter Series.

Coaches Awards

These awards are given by our coaching team to recognise performance, enthusiasm, improvement, and positive contribution to our paddling community.

Maya Eaton

Maya placed second at the Oceania Championships in both K1 and K2, competed in nearly every marathon race of the year, and continued to improve. She balanced her athletic commitments while excelling academically and leading as MLC Kayak Captain. A remarkable all-round performance.

Katherine Shen (U12/U14 Sprint Paddler)

Katherine delivered an impressive sprint season with podium finishes in all three distances:

• U14 K1-1000m — 2nd
• U14 K1-500m — 3rd
• U14 K1-200m — 3rd

Abigail Osborne

Abigail achieved:

• 3rd — U16 K1-200m
• 5th — U16 K1-500m
  She was selected for the U16 Women’s Team representing Australia at the 2025 Asia Pacific Sprint Cup, where she placed 3rd in the WK2-500m.

Elizabeth Lee — Most Improved Paddler

Elizabeth trained consistently and with excellent attitude throughout a challenging season, showing strong improvement and earning the Most Improved Paddler award.

Edie Simpson

Edie showed exemplary leadership as captain of the U18 Team at the Oceania Championships. Her composure under pressure, strong work ethic, and commitment to her team make her an outstanding role model.

Congratulations to all our Coaches Award recipients.

Canoe Polo Awards

James DuBose

James has been the organising force behind our weekly canoe polo training, leading sessions with enthusiasm, encouragement, and a commitment to excellence. His contribution has strengthened the polo community within the club.

Brigit Doyle

Brigit was part of the winning team at the Taiwan National Championships, a tremendous international achievement. Over many years she has also contributed strongly to club spirit and participation.

Well done to both James and Brigit.

Under the Yarra Award

Winner: Ali Graham

This award recognises memorable contributions to club spirit, and Ali’s effort this year was truly distinctive. Ali quite literally went “under the Yarra” to retrieve lost canoe polo equipment — a story we won’t forget anytime soon. Thank you, Ali, for your willingness to go above and beyond.

Chair’s Award

Winner: Julie Perriam

Julie receives the Chair’s Award for her consistent excellence in kayak teaching. She has supported countless paddlers in building their skills and confidence, and her dedication plays a key role in the strength of our club community.

Closing

To all our award recipients — congratulations. Your achievements, hard work, and spirit are what make Fairfield Canoe Club the vibrant community it is.

To our coaches, volunteers, families, and supporters — thank you for everything you contribute. We look forward to another year of paddling excellence, camaraderie, and shared success.

Thank you.

Tony Ladson

7 December, 2025