Ella’s, Jack’s feats earn award honours

SUPERB feats on the soccer and hockey pitch by Deaflympics footballer Ella Kirby and hockey player Jack Tamblyn have been recognised in the 60th Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards.

Kirby’s play for Australia at the Deaflympics in Tokyo last November have put her in the Sports Star of the Year race.

Kirby joins a lengthy list of monthly winners which includes Olympians and Paralympians.

At the Deaflympics the Australian team reached the bronze medal play-off.

The Koalas took on a Great Britain line-which scored a two-nil victory after a one-nil result against Australia in the pool matches.

Kirby’s journey to Tokyo and her first Deaflympics campaign included playing for Spring Gully in the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League.

On the hockey front, Tamblyn was selected in Hockey Australia’s under-16 and under-18 Futures national squads.

His play on the hockey pitch has earnt another Sports Star scholarship.

He also earnt a place in the Victorian Institute of Sport program.

Tamblyn was captain in Victoria’s rush to win gold at the under-16 national titles and also played at the under-18 national championships.

It’s been plenty of time spent on the road by Tamblyn and his family as they travelled to Melbourne for matches and training.

Tamblyn will move to Melbourne this year to board with a family to be closer to his VIS training base and will also attend a sports-based school to complete his VCE.

Nominations for several Sports Star of the Year awards will close soon.

Highs of the 60th presentation to be run on February 27 at the All Seasons International include the John Forbes coach/manager award which is backed by the McKern Steel Foundation.

There’s also the Bendigo Bank Community Minded award; Bendigo Health-sponsored Young Indigenous Athlete/s; and Agnico Fosterville Gold Mine Healthiest School.

All scholarship recipients will be in the running for the Maxine Crouch and Cyril Michelsen trust fund awards.

The Sports Star of the Year committee will also select the Faith Leech Inspiration Award recipient.

Tickets for the gala function are available via the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year website.