Cup-winning ‘keeper nets Sports Star award

GUN goal keeper Charlotte Sexton is the September winner in the 60th edition of Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

Sexton played a crucial role as Australia claimed the World Netball Youth Cup for a fifth time.

Australia’s rising stars in netball scored a 63-48 win against New Zealand in the final in Gibraltar.

It was Sexton’s second international series after touring Fiji in 2024.

The Cup win followed an outstanding season for Bendigo Strikers where Sexton earnt the championship team’s best and fairest award.

In just its second season, the Bendigo Strikers made their way to the VNL championship and 23-under finals.

Sexton is also with the Vixens Academy and also starred for Sandhurst in the Bendigo FNL.

Being a Sports Star finalist puts Sexton among an outstanding group of netballers from the central Victoria region.

The first netballer to claim gold as Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year was Noela Routley in 1970-71.

Bamawm-raised Sharelle McMahon is an elite group of athletes to have earnt Sports Star of the Year gold in consecutive years.

The brilliant goal attack and goal shooter did so in 1998-99 and again in 1999-2000.

The Basil Ashman Hall of Fame, which is at Red Energy Arena in West Bendigo, includes Sharelle McMahon, Caitlin Thwaites and long-time coach and administrator Betty Thompson.

Another young star on the court, Molly Beasley, is the latest scholarship recipient in Sports Star.

It’s been a brilliant year on the basketball and netball court for Beasley.

The teenager has earnt selection in Basketball Australia’s National Performance Program for the second year running.

She was one of two Victorian girls in last year’s program.

Beasley represented Victoria Country at this year’s national under-16 basketball championships.

She has won a national netball schools championships and two state championships in the past month.

The 60th presentation of Bendigo Sports Star of the Year will be next February at the All Seasons Hotel in Bendigo.

The lead-up to the gala night will include the announcement of the newest Hall of Fame inductee/s and Lucas Herbert Golf Scholarship recipients on 6 November at Red Energy Arena.