As flagged in recent editions of The Cut, the ASTMA is currently calling for nominations for its annual awards, with applications closing Wednesday 30 April. The ASTMA encourages members and the wider industry to nominate a club, facility or an individual that is deserving of recognition. After looking at the ASTMA Excellence in Sportsfields and Grounds Management Award last week, this week we highlight another of the ASTMA’s newest awards, the Sports Turf Management Team of the Year Award sponsored by ASTMA Bronze Partner Repco Commercial.

The ASTMA Sports Turf Management Team of the Year Award is designed to highlight teams who have delivered exceptional performances and contributed outstanding management, operations and presentation at a sporting facility. Open to turf management teams at all sport and recreation facilities, the award acknowledges and recognises the outstanding achievements of teams in the management/maintenance of a natural turf sport and recreation facility, including (but not limited to) stadiums, recreational reserves, golf courses, school grounds, council sportsfields and parks, racetracks, bowling greens or tennis courts. The award values the importance of working as a team to manage facilities, advance environmental and sustainable turf management practices, deliver outstanding results and promote the profession of sports turf management.

At the 2024 National Turf Industry Awards, Matthew Oliver (pictured right, with Repco's Gary Downs) accepted the award on behalf of his crew at Suncorp Stadium. The Brisbane rectangular stadium is one of Australia’s most recognised arenas and entertains multiple national and international sporting competitions in addition to hosting numerous sell-out concerts. It is home ground for four major tenant clubs including the NRL’s Brisbane Broncos and Redcliffe Dolphins, Super Rugby side Queensland Reds and A-League side Brisbane Roar.

Despite the prominence of the venue and its large number of events, the Suncorp Stadium crew boasts just three full-time crew members. Adaptability and resilience are two of the key strengths that the Suncorp Stadium team possesses in spades and no more was that evident than over the past two years. In 2023 alone, they prepared Suncorp for 61 separate events, including matches for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and surpassed that number in 2024. All this in addition to a raft of works including full and partial surface replacements, irrigation upgrades and infrastructure improvements.   CLICK HERE to read more… 

The winner of the 2025 ASTMA Sports Turf Management Team of the Year Award will be announced as part of the National Turf Industry Awards held during the Syngenta Presidents Dinner on the opening night of the Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in Sydney. The winner will be awarded a training and development fund of $5000 that may be used by the team/facility toward further education, training, a team building event, team function or ASTMA approved study activities.
 
To apply or nominate a deserving team, submit your application online via the dedicated webform on the ASTMA Sports Turf Management Team of the Year page on the ASTMA website. Alternatively, you can download the editable nomination form HERE. An editable Word document can also be requested from simone@astma.com.au.

Please note that nominations must be received by Wednesday 30 April, 2025