DESPITE the announcement of Sue Walter and Zoe Addinsall as Sportswoman of the Year and Junior Sportswoman of the Year for 2022, many other locals were also acknowledged during Monday night’s event.

Glenelg Region Hockey Association’s Under-13 Girls team won the McDonalds Hamilton Team Award after their impressive Junior Country Championships campaign earlier in the year.

Coach, Julie Templeton said it was exciting to see the team’s achievement acknowledged again at the awards night.

“I think the girls did an amazing job at the championships in Melbourne and this is back-to-back for them,” she said.

“I think the team might have had about six top-age players, so the rest is made up of girls who are still eligible to play next year and even the year after, so there is some amazing hockey talent around the area.

“I think it is a credit to the hockey association, it is probably one of the largest country hockey associations in Victoria and that is probably why we keep having so much success.

“I hope they realise how big it is to win this award, to have the sportswoman’s association acknowledge not only our team but all the other athletes and teams is really lovely.”

Templeton said it was a team effort to gain the success for the team, both on the hockey field and off it.

“A big thanks to the Glenelg hockey association, Dave Merrin is in charge of organising all the country teams and he has done an amazing job to make sure we are represented in every age group,” she said.

“Lea McArthur was my team manager and she was a fabulous support for me as well.”

Foundation Members Award

POPPY Austin received the Foundation Members Award, after the 18-year-old took giant strides in her long-distance running career in 2022.

Austin said she wasn’t expecting to get any awards on the night.

“I am very grateful to be awarded this,” she said.

“It definitely makes it more worthwhile knowing people are acknowledging me and it is more than just fun now, it is becoming a big passion.

“This is my first time at this event and I wasn’t sure what to expect and to get this, it is an honour."

Coming off a strong year, Austin is not resting on her laurels and is postponing the start of her university degree to focus on her athletics with one key event in January her main focus.

“I am deferring my university next year and will be focusing on my running with a team and getting that team experience,” Austin said.

“Really just focused on Canberra and working on my speed to hopefully qualify for the world championships.”

Southern Grampians Shire Achievement Award

ALISON East went back-to-back, collecting the Southern Grampians Shire Achievement Award for the second consecutive year.

The Grangeburn Bowling Club member recently returned from Queensland, where she returned with a bronze medal in the B7-B8 section of the multi-disabilities singles competition.

East also took home the award for best Victorian Female Bowler for the championships, earning her a place in the camp and will be hoping to be selected in the Para-Jackaroos team.

Betty Homes Memorial Trophy

THE Betty Homes Memorial Trophy was presented by Tahlia Homes with Jeanette (Nettie) Ryan receiving this year’s honour for her dedication to numerous sporting teams and clubs.

Ryan is the current Grangeburn Bowling Club president but has held playing and non-playing roles across netball, basketball, swimming and little athletics.

Arriving to the awards night and seeing her daughter, Kira, on the table prompted the thought she would be there to celebrate a family win – until her name was read out as the winner.

“I thought I might have been up against Kira and I didn’t expect her to be here, so when I saw her, I thought she had won it,” she said.

“Just getting recognised for it was pretty special, but you don’t do it for awards, I just love doing it.”

Continuing to ply her trade in pennant bowls and indoor bowls in Warrnambool, Ryan said it was important to work just as hard behind the scenes to ensure clubs ran smoothly.

“It is all in together, the playing and volunteer; you belong to a club and you just get in and do what needs to be done,” she said.

“It is the challenge to be better than my mother (at volunteering and having an impact), who I never will be better than.”