Award-winning Onkaparinga
Published on 01 August 2025
Health professionals, environmentalists and researchers join local volunteers and business people in our latest award-winning Onkaparinga column.
This sporting life
Port Noarlunga Bowling Club has been named 2024-25 Large Bowling Club of the Year by Bowls SA. The award is for governance, strategic planning, on-green performance, member numbers, facility improvements and community engagement.
Club president Peter Schwennesen says the club was thrilled to win the award.
“The award capped off a great year in which the club fielded teams in all three premier competitions – ladies’, men’s and open gender,” he said. “Our club is thriving. We now have 360 members, which includes 160 social members who are attracted to the club’s social events.”
Hub Gymnastics has a national champion. Lara Hansford was crowned Level 7 Individual National Champion in Aerobic Gymnastics at the Australian Gymnastics Championships held on the Gold Coast in July.
Researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs
Featuring in this year’s InDaily 40 Under 40 awards are achievers Emma Gilbert, Alec Randall and Greg Stevens, all with links to Onkaparinga. Rural and Regional Award winner Emma Gilbert is the founder and director of Incubate Pro. Food Innovation Award winner Alec Randall is founder and director of It’s Olio. Entrepreneurial Award winner Greg Stevens is founding director of Core Ventures Group and general manager of Lonsdale-based Seed Terminator.
The Advertiser names 3 outstanding locals in its list of top SA business people aged under 40 years: Amy Slade, occupational therapist and director of OT Kidz and The Pilates Venue located in McLaren Vale and now Seaford; Mark Kamleh, co-owner of the Old Bush Inn in Willunga and the Silver Sands Beach Club; and Elliot Brown, founder of the McLaren Vale café and wine bar Hey Juj and event-management service MASE Events.
O’Sullivan Beach researcher Brad Darkson has received the 2025 John Mulvaney Fellowship from the Australian Academy of Humanities to research traditional seaweed management.
National honours
The King’s Birthday Honours were announced in June, including locals who have contributed in an array of areas. Owner of Willunga’s Star of Greece restaurant and multiple board director Nikki Govan was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
McLaren Vale Dr Carolyn Lawlor-Smith was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to general practice and community health.
An OAM was also awarded to Bill Rawlins for, among other things, his commitment to the South Adelaide Football Club.
Plate that up
Fine diners will be pleased to hear that Maxwell Restaurant has been listed in The Australian’s 2025 Hot 50 Restaurants.
Willunga Farmers Market stalwart Woodside Cheese Wrights has been recognised in the national 2025 DIAA Australian Dairy Product awards, taking out 3 gold medals and 2 silver medals.
For the fifth year in a row, Adelaide Fresh Fruiterers in Morphett Vale has taken out the Retailer of the Year – People’s Choice Award in the 2025 ‘A better choice!’ campaign that celebrates independently owned Australian fruit and veg shops.
Bottled success
McLaren Vale’s Yangarra Estate, run by viticulturist Michael Lane and winemaker Peter Fraser, has won this year’s Vineyard of the Year Award. Michael manages nearly 82 hectares of vines at A-grade biodynamic standards, working with winegrape varieties such as Grenache.
Assistant winemaker at Hardy’s Tintara in McLaren Vale, Erin Armstrong, is one of five South Australian State Champions in the Rootlings Wine Industry Youth Network.
Paragon Wine Estates’ 2022 D Block Shingleback Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz has been recognised by the International Wine Challenge 2025, while a Grenache from Willunga 100 vineyard clinched the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show at the National Wine Show of Australia.
Local distillers featured in this year’s Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards. The Best Blended Malt award went to Black Gate Distillery and Fleurieu Distillery. Never Never Distilling Co took out 2 gongs – the Best Fruit or Wine Grape Gin for its Ginache gin and the Best Design for Triple Juniper gin.
Local beer makers won a plethora of medals, including a number of gold, in the Royal Adelaide Beer and Cider Awards: Vale Brewing McLaren Vale, Aldinga’s Kick Back Brewing, McLaren Vale’s Swell Brewing Company.
Our very own
Also joining the ranks of recent state winners are City of Onkaparinga staff who won 2 awards in SA’s Australian Institute of Landscape Architects awards, an excellence award in the Local Government Association’s (LGA) annual Community Wastewater Management System conference, and a work health and safety award in the LGA Mutual Awards.
Lifesaving – a big thanks
And while no awards have yet been granted, accolades and gratitude to Richard Nurmi and Hughie Deroussent from the Christie’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club who rushed to save the lives of 5 men in the water off Christies and O’Sullivan Beaches on 20 July.
IMAGES from top
. Port Noarlunga wins large bowling club of the year
. Lara Hansford triumphs at the gymnastics nationals
. Emma Gilbert named a top 40 under 40
. Amy Slade recognised for her entrepreneurship
. Mark Kamleh recognised for business achievement - with co-owner Nick Stock
. Brad Darkson achieves research fellowship - with partner Chloe Darkson
. Dino Labbozzetta kisses his fifth trophy
. Mark Lane appreciates his vineyard of the year
. Erin Armstrong savours her rootlings award
Have an award win to submit?
Onkaparinga Now would love to hear about it.
Eligibility
For inclusion in the column, all of the following criteria must be met:
1. Businesses, organisations, groups or individuals located in the City of Onkaparinga
2. Winners of state, national or international awards in their chosen field
3. Award received up to two months before submission.
Submission
Email to onow@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au
Please include:
1. Your name and contact details
2. Name and (if known) contact details of the winner
3. Name and details of the award
4. If available, web links to the award
5. If available, high-resolution images.