THE All Seasons sparkled last week with the light of some of the town\u2019s brightest and best sporting elite.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s achievements on the field, court, pitch, track and many other places.<\/p>\n
The major title, the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year, went to cricketer and local spin sensation Todd Murphy.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s always had the drive to keep going and as we always said cricket\u2019s like any other sport, it\u2019s more about the people you meet along the way and the friendships you make,\u201d Mr Murphy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that was probably the thing that\u2019s driven him all the way through, and going to where he\u2019s got now is far beyond our dreams, he\u2019s done very well.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Cr Metcalf said the evening had been inspirational and was about celebrating people who have stepped up to be recognised as sportspeople.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE All Seasons sparkled last week with the light of some of the town\u2019s 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\u2019s achievements on the field, court, […]<\/p>\n