School coordinators recognised as part of Community Sports Awards celebrations

Snow Australia wishes to recognise school snow sports coordinators Scott Bedingfield, Kylie Bickerstaff, Bruce Campbell, Andy Kovari and Mel Lyons for their contributions to the Interschools community.

In the absence of Snowsports School of the Year and Outstanding School Achievement awards (due to COVID event cancellations in the last two seasons) that are traditionally presented at the Community Sport Awards, Snow Australia wishes to recognise school snowsports coordinators for the role they play in driving participation in snow sports.

School coordinators for the Interschools Championships play a major role in encouraging new families into the sport, along with supporting those who already participate.

With over 600 schools currently competing in the Interschools Championships across Australia, Snow Australia is recognising five school coordinators who have been nominated by their community, and would like to congratulate Scott Bedingfield (St Lukes, NSW), Kylie Bickerstaff (MLC School, NSW), Bruce Campbell (Redlands College, NSW), Andy Kovari (The Scots College, NSW) and Mel Lyons (Mentone Grammar School, VIC).

National Interschools Chair Steve Cooper thanked the school coordinators for their commitment to snowsports.

“School snowsports coordinators are integral to continuing the long running success of Interschools Championships across the country,” Cooper said.

“It is great to be able to honour five outstanding school coordinators for their contributions to the Interschools community.

“After an interrupted two years, I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with the school snowsports coordinators as we look to the 2022 domestic winter and beyond,” he said.

Scott Bedingfield was the school coordinator for 12 Years at Macarthur Anglican School before moving to St Luke’s Grammar School, where he has overseen their snow sports program for the last 4 years. Whenever possible Bedingfield also assists as a course volunteer at Interschools events.

At Macarthur, Bedingfield developed a residential Snowsports program which allowed for continued growth and development in Snowsports at the school, from first timers to seasoned performers.

Since joining St Luke’s he has assisted in introducing many more students to the sport through developing family-friendly programs, particularly focusing on improving participation in the junior school, and organises off snow fitness training to prepare students for the upcoming seasons.

In 2021, he developed a Snowsports Camp with 130 Senior Students signed up to participate but was unfortunately cancelled due to stay at home orders. The school is now looking forward to that beginning in 2022.

Kylie Bickerstaff at MLC is a very encouraging, fun, and supportive school coordinator.

Kylie has built a snowsports family at MLC through pre-season training programs, organises on snow training, dinners and informal gatherings. She goes above and beyond her role even organising lessons for parents to give cross country skiing a go.

Kylie has developed a supportive environment within the team and challenges to try an event that they wouldn't normally have competed in. She is proud of every single girl that has a go.

Since 1984, Bruce Campbell has been driving participation and development in snowsports at SCECGS Redlands. He founded both the Redlands High Country Campus in Jindabyne in 1995 and the Redlands Cup in 1997.

Campbell has always given his time selflessly to promote interschools participation at Redlands and he has been responsible for many thousands of children at the school taking up snowsports and excelling, with some notable achievements among Redlands Alumni who have gone on to higher honours representing their country.

Campbell supports elite athletes training programs while maintaining their academic studies, through remote learning initiatives. Campbell has announced his retirement from Redlands after 37 years of exceptional service  as a teacher, tireless snowsports Master in Charge, and supporter of snow sports participation and development.

Without someone like Andy Kovari championing snow sports, The Scots College would not be what it is today. Kovari has introduced many significant initiatives that in 2019, led to 9% of the total student body of the school being involved in Snowsports in some capacity, either in development training programs or competitions.

Kovari’s focus has consistently been on participation and personal development. He helped establish the Scots Race, which gives all schools an opportunity to get a competition experience similar to Interschools.

He was instrumental in establishing the dry land training program to support Snowsports participants. He has left a Snowsports legacy at Scots of enormous participation, amazing success and a lifelong love of Snowsports for many students and families.

Since taking on the school coordinator role at Mentone Grammar School, Mel Lyons has developed an active community within the snowsport families and tripled participation rates.

A parent volunteer, Lyons is passionate, supportive, and inclusive when it comes to developing and maintaining interest in the school snow sports program and Interschools.

Throughout the year she organises information sessions to promote the sport and welcome new and past students, fitness sessions at trampoline parks, ex-students to coach the team, trials and a family fun race at Mt Buller, and team building social events for over 40 families.