NORTH QUEENSLAND SPORTSTAR AWARDS ATTRACTS LARGE NUMBER OF NOMINEES
The North Queensland Sports Foundation is delighted that this year’s North Queensland Sportstar Awards has reached the twenty–fifth year milestone since the first Awards night was held in 1991, with Brad Beven the world champion triathlete winning the senior award that year. Since then the Awards has been held in venues all over North Queensland, hosted by most of the member Councils of the North Queensland Sports Foundation.
This year’s Awards were held at the Diggers Entertainment Centre and were hosted by the Flinders Shire Council in conjunction with the North Queensland Sports Foundation. The glittering night was attended by over 140 guests who included Mayors, Councillors and sporting enthusiasts from all over North Queensland.
The judging of the nominees was very difficult due to the high standards that have been set in numerous sports. In a total of four categories of Awards (senior, junior, athlete with a disability and service to North Queensland sport), the North Queensland Sports Foundation has received a total of 37 nominations.
President of the North Queensland Sports Foundation, Pat Ernst, was delighted with the high standard of nominees that had been received. “It is once again very pleasing that we have received a large number of nominees and in such a varied range of sporting achievements.”
The senior winner was Rhys Dearness from Townsville who received $2000 to further his indoor cricket aspirations. He now goes on to represent North Queensland at the State Awards in Brisbane later in December. The winner of the Junior Award for the second year running was Tablelands sailor Kristen Wadley, who will receive $1000. World Champion water-skier Ian Hickmott was the recipient of the Athlete with a Disability Award at the ceremony in Hughenden.
The Service to North Queensland Sport, which was initiated to honour the unsung hero, the person who tends to be the back bone of their sport, continues to be well supported by a large number of nominees. The winner of this category was Glen Jacobs from Cairns who has raised the profile and participation of Mountain Biking in the far north region. Glenn was be presented with a voucher from Rydges Hotel, trophy and commemorative jacket.
For more information contact Andrew Bligh, Manager of the North Queensland Sports Foundation on the above numbers or on mobile 0419 681053.
Full List of Winners 2015
Senior Sportstar Award
1st Rhys Dearness Townsville
2nd David Scott Mount Isa
Junior Sportstar Award
1st Kristen Wadley Tablelands
2nd Anna Staib Townsville
Athlete with a Disability
1st Ian Hickmott Townsville
2nd Kyra Dunrow Whitsunday
Service to Sport
1st Glen Jacobs Cairns
2nd Allison Read Flinders Shire
2nd Bette Wyer Mackay
