Victoria update
Michael Migliaccio regonised for contribution to bocce
Congratulations to Michael Migliaccio on being awarded the Melbourne Eastern Ranges (MER) Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year!
On November 30, Michael received this well-deserved recognition for his tireless dedication to MER Special Olympics, the Knox Italian Community Club (KICC), and the sport of bocce.
Michael’s journey in sports began with more than 12 years of playing soccer, squash, and ten-pin bowling. He joined the KICC in 2008, where he served as a committee member for three years and as president from 2010 to 2013. During this time, he also represented the KICC bocce club in various capacities, including on the boards of Bocce Victoria and Special Olympics Bocce Australia.
In 2013, Michael began his bocce journey, competing in numerous tournaments. By 2016, he became a volunteer coach for SOA MER, starting with just seven athletes. His engaging coaching style quickly expanded the group to 23 athletes.
His achievements as a coach are remarkable: in 2017, he was selected as Victoria’s bocce coach for the 2018 National Games, and in 2018, he coached 17 athletes, with three earning spots to represent Australia at the Abu Dhabi Special Olympics World Games in 2019. In 2021, he was again selected to coach at the 2022 National Games in Launceston, where his athletes won multiple medals.
Michael’s impact extends beyond coaching; he introduced innovative initiatives like Glow in the Dark Bocce and developed training mats to enhance athletes’ skills.
He is passionate about fostering teamwork, respect, and long-lasting friendships among athletes, living by the motto “team effort achieves most”. Michael also played a key role in building a strong partnership between Bocce Australia and Special Olympics, enhancing opportunities for all athletes.
We are so proud of you, Michael!
Written by Sonia Fava.