Achievements & Updates

New Academy Coaches 

We are excited to announce our new Sports Academy coaches who will support our program this year - welcome to Dean and MJ!

Dean Fak                                                           

Head Coach G.U.F.C 2026

Reserve Coach G.U.F.C 2025

Newborough Senior Coach 2024

Head Coach G.U.F.C Under 13s (2024), Under 12's (2023), Under 11's (2022)

Has played over 400 N.S.L and V.P.L games

4 V.P.L titles

Victorian State Captain 

Mwai Kumwenda (MJ) 

Player of the Tournament 2015 Netball World Cup 

Grand Final MVP Melbourne Vixens  

Meet the Sports Academy Team

Leadership

Allan Chandler - Sports Academy Director & Head AFL Coach

Malcolm Swinley - Executive Director Sports Academy & High-Performance Manager

Administration

Abby Cornish - Sports Coordinator 

Tahni Hodgens - Sports Administration

Heath Johnson - Sports Administration

Netball 

Stacie Gardiner - Head Netball Coach

Ramayer Keilty (nee Gourley) - (Gippsland Stars) - Netball Coach

Mwai Kumwenda - (Former Melbourne Vixens) - Netball Coach

Ruby Pratt - (Drouin A Grade Coach) - Netball Coach

AFL

Scott van Dyk - AFL Coach

Emily Gibson - AFL Coach

Scott McDougal - (Gippsland Power Talent Manager) - AFL Coach 

Michael Farmer - (Gippsland Power Girls Coach) - AFL Coach (no photo available)

Soccer

Peter Boyes - (Gippsland United Boys Coach) - Soccer Coach

Dean Fak - (Gippsland United Senior Coach) - Soccer Coach

Basketball 

Michael Santo - Head Basketball Coach

Heath Johnson - (Gippsland United Women's Coach) - Basketball Coach

Jalin Wimberly - (Gippsland United Import) - Basketball Coach (no photo available)

Strength and Conditioning

Cooper Alger - (Voyage Fitness, CAPT Performance) 

Melissa Chandler (no photo available)

Upcoming Events in Term 1 2026

24/3/26 – Nutrition Appointments (Year 7s)

11/3/26 to 23/3/26 – NAPLAN Testing (Year 7s & 9s)

31/3/26 – Lowanna College Athletics Carnival (all students) 

For whole school important dates, please refer to the college newsletter which can be found on the college website.

Gippsland Stars Netball

Recently, Year 10 students Virginia and Taylah played their first round of the State Super Netball Series, representing Gippsland Stars Netball. Virginia played in the U19s Women’s team against the Peninsula Waves and Taylah played in the U17s Women’s team against Edith Aspendale. Congratulations to both students for being selected to play at such a high level. We wish them all the best for this season.

Jax’s School Based Traineeship

Well done to current Lowanna College student and former LSA student Jax for commencing a School-Based Traineeship at Elders Real Estate. We wish him all the best in this new chapter!

Traralgon Basketball Tournament 

Over the Labour Day long weekend, a number of LSA students competed in the Traralgon Basketball Tournament, including three of our Year 7 students - Declan, Jack and Jett. The boys had a successful weekend, winning against Warragul in the semi-final (who they lost against the previous day) and advancing to the Grand Final against a talented Traralgon side, losing by just 12 points. Well done boys!

Netball State Titles 

Congratulations to the Virginia, Chloe and Taylah who recently represented Gippsland at the 2026 Netball State Titles, competing against some of the best netballers in the state across 17 games. Well done girls!

A day in the Lowanna Sports Academy

Courtside Day Trip (Basketball)

Our LSA basketballers attended Melbourne to participate in a high-performance basketball training session with some of the State's best coaches.