CHAMPIONS from many sports across the Bendigo region will soon gather for the 60th Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards.<\/p>\n
The theme for the diamond jubilee of the awards, which began in 1965-66, is glitter and gold.<\/p>\n
More than 10 of those who earnt gold, in some cases more than once as Sports Star of the Year, will be at the All Seasons International in Bendigo on 27 February.<\/p>\n
A guest list nearing 400 includes Paralympic gold medallist Tim Matthews; cyclist Phil Sawyer; rowers Deborah Bassett, Hannah Every-Hall and De Fraser; golfer Sandra McCaw; lawn bowler Lee Schraner; duathlete Leon Griffin; and water skiing ace Kaye Thurlow, nee Faulkner.<\/p>\n
Sports Star of the Year in 2011-12, Jaclyn Wilson is still powering around the BMX track and is a finalist for 2025.<\/p>\n
The McCaig family links to Sports Star began when Frank became the inaugural winner in 1965-66, and struck gold again two years later.<\/p>\n
The second of Frank and Raeleen’s children, Brent, was a gun cyclist and was Sports Star of the Year in 1992-92.<\/p>\n
Brent will return to Bendigo for the awards and will be joined by older brother Rik and others in the McCaig clan.<\/p>\n
This year’s inductee to the Basil Ashman Hall of Fame is AFL legend Graham Arthur who captained Hawthorn’s first premiership team in 1961.<\/p>\n
A remarkable group of 50 in the Hall of Fame includes Robert Burns, cycling; Jack Davey, athletics; Ashley Donaldson, basketball\/football; Kristi Harrower, basketball; Ann Howe, golf; Faith Leech, swimming; Betty Thompson and Caitlin Thwaites, netball; Trevor Tully, golf\/tennis; and Wayne Walsh, cricket.<\/p>\n
This year’s scholarship recipients will be in the running for the Maxine Crouch and Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund.<\/p>\n
A new award is the La Trobe University-sponsored Stay Near, Go Far initiative.<\/p>\n
Other awards are the Faith Leech Inspiration, McKern Steel John Forbes coach\/manager, Agnico Gold Healthiest School, Bendigo Health Indigenous Athlete, and Bendigo Bank Community Minded.<\/p>\n
Champions from AFL, basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, rifle shooting, lawn bowls, netball, rowing, swimming, yachting and many more feature across six sensational decades of Sports Star history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CHAMPIONS from many sports across the Bendigo region will soon gather for the 60th Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards. The theme for the diamond jubilee of the awards, which began in 1965-66, is glitter and gold. More than 10 of those who earnt gold, in some cases more than once as Sports Star […]<\/p>\n