The North Queensland Sports Foundation celebrated it’s most successful Sportstar Awards in it’s 43 year history, recognising emerging talent and support by giving away in excess of $40,000 of prize and scholarship money at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on Saturday October 25th.
The event was attended by over 340 guests to a sit down dinner, with entertainment and speeches by Townsville based athletes Sam Thaiday and Natalie Cook.
Pulling out all the stops – including some small on-stage fireworks – the NQSF marked an exciting new chapter in it’s history after a record setting nominations drive and the most amount of finalists ever across the 9 categories.
“Tonight, North Queensland proved it’s immense support for all of our sporting communities. We had representatives from too many sports clubs to mention; Surf Lifesaving, Athletics, Dancing, Go-Karting, Golfing etc.” said NQSF CEO Alexander J. Fisher
“And to have the next generation of our stars in the same room as 2x Olympic Gold Medallists in Natalie Cook & Linda MacKenzie, and Rugby League legends in Sam Thaiday and Gene Miles, really cements home to these kids that their dreams are achievable with a little support”.
Emerging Townsville-based sprinter Uwezo Lubenda won the Junior of the Year category after becoming National Champion in U16s 100m & 200m sprints. Winter Sports athlete Alexander Ferlazzo took out the Major Senior category, after earning the title of American-Pacific Champion at the Luge Korean World Cup.
Full List of Winners:
| Category | Winner | Runner-Up |
| Senior | Alexander Ferlazzo Winter Olympics – Luge Townsville | Liam Paro Professional Boxer Mackay |
| Junior | Uwezo Lubenda Athletics – Sprints Townsville | Dylan Wright Water Ski Cairns |
| Team of the Year | U18 Mackay Meteorettes Basketball Mackay | NQ F/TR Rifle Club Shooting NQ & Burdekin |
| Sports Impact | Lewis Fuller Dragon Boating Townsville | Kimberley Doyle Special Olympics Mackay |
| Sports Excellence | Karin Thorbun Running Burdekin | |
| Para-Athlete of the Year | Dale Potter Special Olympics Mackay | Sidney Whipp Goalball Cairns |
| Rural & Remote Sportstar | Cade Ferguson Rodeo Cloncurry | Jack Larson Racing – Karting Hinchinbrook |
| Service to Sport | Lenny Chiesa Surf Life Saving + Rugby League Hinchinbrook | Beverley Knowles Special Olympics |
| Masters | John McKaig Swimming Townsville | Roscoe McDonnell Athletics – Running Mackay |
