Local sports night of nights

THE All Seasons sparkled last week with the light of some of the town’s brightest and best sporting elite.

Friday evening saw the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards ceremony and attracted a crowd of families and friends, local leaders, and homegrown sporting legends to celebrate the past year’s achievements on the field, court, pitch, track and many other places.

The major title, the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year, went to cricketer and local spin sensation Todd Murphy.

Murphy was awarded the honour following his Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar series in India, a performance he followed up with success in the Ashes in England.

While he was an apology on the evening due to overseas training commitments, the award was accepted by parents Jamie and Paula Murphy, who said they were extremely proud of their son’s achievement.

“He’s always had the drive to keep going and as we always said cricket’s like any other sport, it’s more about the people you meet along the way and the friendships you make,” Mr Murphy said.

“So that was probably the thing that’s driven him all the way through, and going to where he’s got now is far beyond our dreams, he’s done very well.”

Representatives of sponsors and partners of Bendigo Sports Star presented awards and included Lance Faulkner of Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine, Dave Kerr of Bendigo Health, Bruce Michelsen representing the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund

City of Greater Bendigo mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf presented the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year award on behalf of Premier and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, who was away due to the fires in other parts of the state.

Cr Metcalf said the evening had been inspirational and was about celebrating people who have stepped up to be recognised as sportspeople.

“There’s an absolute commitment and drive to really seen in sports, and as the coach said, it actually means that they may not continue their sport but they go on to become a fantastic citizen later on in life,” she said.