LAUREN Driscoll was yesterday named  the 2023 Good Sports Victorian volunteer of the year during a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.
The Pyramid Hill Football Netball Club volunteer was hailed as a long-term Good Sports champion, committed to making everyone feel welcome at the club and with a vested interest in ensuring the club continues to be safe and inclusive for families.
The national Good Sports Awards celebrate Australia’s best community sporting clubs and volunteers for their commitment to building healthy and inclusive club environments.
Volunteers were recognised for their work with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program in tackling alcohol, illicit drugs, smoking, mental health and safe transport.
The foundation’s Victoria manager, Mona Malouf said that Lauren should be incredibly proud of her achievements.
“The Good Sports Awards are the ultimate trophy for any Good Sports club. Every year we get to celebrate incredible work being done by dedicated volunteers in community sport and this year is no different,”  Ms Malouf said.
“These award recipients are shining examples of the Good Sports program which is helping build a healthier sporting nation by supporting clubs to be the very best they can be.”
Club secretary Jan Hickmott said: “Lauren takes on many roles within the club including social media manager, grant writer, netball umpire, and player, and we are incredibly lucky to have such a passionate, loyal and capable person.”
Pyramid Hill Football Netball Club was awarded the Good Sports National Safe Transport Award in both 2019 and 2021 and working with a small, dedicated group, Lauren has ensured the club remains committed to promoting road safety on rural roads.
“Lauren is also a committed advocate for the responsible service of alcohol, mental wellbeing, safety, and inclusion. A teacher and natural leader, Lauren is enthusiastic, passionate, and committed in everything she does,” Jan said.
Working with almost 12,000 community sports clubs, including more than 3300 in Victoria, Good Sports is Australia’s largest community health sports program. 
In Victoria, it’s managed by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and funded by the Australian Government.
The recent Celebrating 25 Years report highlighted the powerful impacts of the Good Sports program, including the reduction of risky drinking at participating clubs by 37 per cent, with a 42 per cent reduction in alcohol-related harms.
“Whilst local sport clubs can be places where alcohol and other drug-related harms occur, the Good Sports program demonstrates that they can also be the opposite - and strongly influence positive, healthy behaviours,” Ms Malouf said.