A popular Lismore sports team and an entrepreneur have been nominated as finalists in their respective categories.

The Lismore Workers Swim Team has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious NSW Swimming Club of the Year (Regional) award, as part of the inaugural Swimming NSW Awards.

Swimming NSW launched these awards to celebrate the outstanding achievements of swimmers, coaches, clubs, officials, and volunteers from across the state. The awards aim to shine a spotlight on those who have made a significant impact on the sport, both in and out of the pool.

Lismore Workers Swim Team say they are honoured to be recognised among the top regional clubs in New South Wales. This nomination reflects the club’s strong performance over the 2024/25 season, its dedication to fostering talent, and its unwavering commitment to community spirit and inclusion in the Northern Rivers region.

“This is a fantastic acknowledgment of the hard work, passion, and resilience shown by our swimmers, coaches, families, and volunteers,” said Club President Gary Dardengo. “To be recognised at a state level is an incredible boost for our club and for swimming in regional communities like ours.”

The winners of the Swimming NSW Awards will be announced at a special ceremony in Sydney on Saturday, 26 July 2025.

Lismore dad Brad Ambridge, founder of inclusive soccer program Rainbow Roos, has been named as a finalist in The Fathering Project’s Australian Fathering Awards. Previous winners include another Lismore man, Craig Foster AM, Jimmy Barnes AO, Hamish Blake and Dick Smith AO.

Brad is a father to an autistic child and understands more than most just how overwhelming the world is when it comes to sport. Not wanting his own child to miss out on opportunities, he started Rainbow Roos to provide fun, inclusive and adaptable soccer skills programs to children with additional needs (physical and neurological) in the Northern Rivers.

In addition to soccer skills, Brad teaches empathy, understanding and kindness, encouraging each child to be themselves, showing them that it is cool to be unique.

Brad runs 15 sessions each week, working with almost 300 children. He also runs school holiday programs and attends community events, helping to promote the importance of inclusive sport in regional Australia.

He is described by his wife Jess as “passionate, determined, selfless, relentless and caring”. Brad has been named as a finalist in the “Australian Sports Father of the Year” category. The recipients will be announced on 4 September.

To find out more visit: australianfatheringawards.org.au. 

Good luck to both our finalists.