Celebrating clubs on campus

With all of the glitz and glamour you’d expect from an A-list event, Gold Coast students and supporters turned out in force to celebrate the night of nights on campus, the Student Guild Awards, on Friday 21 October.

The awards night is one of the most exciting nights on the Guild calendar because it showcases and acknowledges the clubs and individuals who work so hard to provide an exciting and diverse student experience on campus.

In his last official role as Student Guild Board President, Cameron Harrison attended the event to recognise the achievements all the award nominees as well as his own clubs, HOPE4HEALTH and the Camping, Boating and Fishing Club.

“About 170 students frocked up to celebrate the year’s achievements from all of the clubs and to enjoy a night before the lead up to exams to celebrate with all their friends,” says Harrison.

The 26 awards on offer commend the achievements of cultural and sporting clubs on campus as well as the work of individual administrators and Guild volunteers.

“Certainly, at times, being a club executive is a thankless job and you are doing all that extra hard work behind the scenes to make sure it’s running properly and getting the adequate amount of finance to make events happen and so on,” explains Harrison. “Lots of club members don’t ever really get an insight into what goes on and hopefully the awards night is an opportunity to showcase what these executives have done.”

Many of the awards recognise excellence in particular areas of club administration such as Best Social Media Presence, awarded to the Surgical Interest Association or Most Outstanding Club Website, awarded to the Griffith Anime Society.

This year, the award for OrgSync Engagement was added to the program for clubs who have embraced the new online clubs engagement platform, OrgSync, to simplify and streamline administrative processes and member engagement. The inaugural award went to Griffith Business Students Association.

The prestigious Volunteer of the Year award went to Leanne Phung and Most Active Volunteer was awarded to Aleisha Hynes, both for their dedicated contribution to the Guild Crew throughout 2016.

Harrison reflects on why students are prepared to devote their free time to running clubs on campus and delivering the range of great and events activities enjoyed by all.

“Often I ask myself why… I think it’s just a passion and an enjoyment that you get from making your club run as best as it can and making it enjoyable for other students,” he reflects. “And it’s sort of a thank you… to make sure that your club continues to survive and to carry on the legacy that the executives before you have left. I guess it’s to have fun mainly and to make a bit of a difference.”

HOPE4HEALTH took out Club of the Year for the second year in a row and also won the Most Outstanding Achievement by a Club for the Ubuntu Through Health Project.

Griffith University Gold Coast has had an exciting year in the sports arena with the Uniroos Netball Team winning the Single Best Sporting Achievement for representing Australia at the Netball World University Championships, and the Touch Football Club winning Best Performance at a Sporting Event for their victory in the Northern Rivers Touch League. The Touch Football Club also claimed Sporting Club of the Year.

Whether you are after something sporty, looking to pursue a hobby or seeking a way to start networking in your professional field, there is a club on campus for you. If you haven’t explored the exciting world of campus clubs then maybe today is the day to make contact and set yourself up for a great 2017. You can browse the list of Gold Coast clubs available here. If you can’t find what you are looking for then why not start a club yourself?

Harrison believes that some of your best times at university take place within the cultural and sporting clubs on campus.

“Clubs on campus are an excellent way to promote friendships, promote involvement and promote inclusion” he says.

“The friendships that you form in these clubs will transcend the degree. It makes your university experience more enjoyable and memorable.”

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