FINALIST PROFILE
2021 EQUESTRIAN VICTORIA
LIFETIME SERVICE TO SPORT FINALIST
MICHELLE DEBENHAM
MEET MICHELLE
Michelle’s own competitive career was centred around Show Jumping but through her daughter Molly she became involved with Berry’s Creek Pony Club and Korumburra Pony Club. Molly’s eventing passion became Michelle’s.
She began training to become a Technical Delegate in 2013 and despite her personal battle with breast cancer she has continued to study and perform her duties.
Michelle is now qualified to 4* FEI Technical Delegate. She has officiated throughout Australia and overseas including Badminton, Blair Castle, Hartpury, Houghton Hall and Ireland.
She is Event Director for Tonimbuk Horse Trials. During COVID Michelle, Roger Kane, Matthew Bates and James Leva set up The Australian Eventing Forum, created to keep Eventing Officials connected during the pandemic and has facilitated a series of zoom meeting covering specific topics of interest. The group has quickly grown to 300+ people including coaches, athletes and Organising Committees.
In her daily life Michelle is also the Co-Ordinator of Suicide Prevention at Wellways.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
HOW TO VOTE
Before casting your vote we’d like you to get to know our finalists by reading their profile.
You’ll also need your membership number, so have it handy when you’re ready to make your selections. We also ask that you look at the criteria listed for each category and use these points to make your decision – remember, it’s not about just being a nice person!
When you are ready to cast your vote, simply click on the VOTE NOW button.
JUDGING CRITERIA
In considering the award of Lifetime Service an individual should have demonstrated significant, sustained and high quality service contributing to the improvement, quality and accessibility of equestrian sport, Consideration should be given to the following:
- Length of involvement in the sport
- Initiatives developed or involved in which contributed to the enhancement of the sport
- Significant mentoring to share knowledge
- Time volunteering
- Demonstrated approachability and integrity
VOTING ELIGIBILITY
You must have been a financial member during the 2020 membership year to be eligible to cast a vote. You are only able to submit ONE voting form per category. The following will be deemed void and will be removed:
- duplicate votes in a category by the same member
- unfinancial members (as per time period above)
- invalid or incorrect membership numbers