Sport
18 February, 2025
Wimmera Sports Star of the Year awards recap
The Wimmera Sports Star of the Year awards were held at Coughlin Park on Friday, February 13 with Peter Smith named the 2024 Wimmera Sports Star of the Year.
HORSHAM SPORTS AND COMMUNITY CLUB SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR - Peter Smith (Water Skiing)
Peter represented Australia at the World Over-35 Waterski Championships in Spain. He claimed Bronze in the individual jump competition and was part of the Australian team that finished second overall in the competition being the USA.
Additionally finished second overall in the 2024 National Championships held in Mulwala, finishing second in the jump, third in tricks and third in slalom. Also currently the Victoria Over 65 record holder in the jump event.
GRASSROOTS AWARD FOR A FORMER WIMMERA ATHLETE - Tim Decker – Olympic Team Coach – Cycling
Wimmera export Tim Decker coached the Australian men’s team pursuit to a world record
and gold medal victory at the Olympic Games in Paris. The squad – Kelland O’Brien, Sam
Welsford, Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn. Australia last won gold in this event in 2004 and
in 1984 prior to that.
AJW FIT VALUED VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD - Anthony Taylor – Wimmera Karting Club
A tireless servant over a number of years, Anthony has advanced the interests of the
Wimmera Kart Racing club through continuous improvements to the track and its facilities,
and coordination of regular club events including social karting and club races.
Anthony schedules and hosts a number of karting information and come-and-try events and loves mentoring new club members as they enter the sport. Anthony does so much for the club and it is never in want of thanks, he just loves his sport and his passion is sharing that joy with others.
ACCESS ALL ABILITIES LOCAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Rachael Werner – Wimmera Whippets
Rachael represented Victoria Country in the first-ever women’s all abilities AFL exhibition,
which competed in Brisbane during the 2024 Inclusion Carnival. Rachael is an outstanding
player for the Whippets football team, bringing her passion to the game and contributing to
the whole club.
ACCESS ALL ABILITIES NATIONAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Samuel Hudson – Football
Sam was selected for a second consecutive year to represent Victoria Country in the AFL
Open National Inclusion Carnival in November 2024. Victoria Country finished on top of
Division 2, winning a second consecutive premiership, and Sam was crowned best on the ground in the grand final.
3WM TOM GAWITH SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD - Laharum Football Netball Club
In the 2024 season, The Laharum Football Netball Club (LFNC) exemplified resilience, excellence, and leadership both on and off the field.
The club has led the way in fostering cultural awareness. It played a pivotal role in organizing and hosting a Reconciliation Round during Reconciliation Week, partnering with Natimuk United FNC for the inaugural & Battle of the Rocks. This round celebrates the cultural significance of Dyrite (Mt Arapiles) and Geriwerd (The Grampians) and acknowledges our Indigenous first people and the beginnings in the Grampians of our national game, Australian Rules Football. This powerful initiative highlights the importance of reconciliation.
GOOLUM GOOLUM INDIGENOUS SPORTS STAR AWARD - Kianah Batty – Horsham and District Soccer Club and Natimuk United Football
Kianah was successful in earning selection the Southwest Victorian Football representative squad which competed in championship tournaments across the Victoria during the year.
Kianah plays locally in the Horsham Falcon Under 14s competition in the Horsham and District Soccer club as the only female on the team. Kianah also plays Under 14s Football with the Natimuk United Football Club. Kianah is very driven with her soccer and takes any opportunity that she is given to learn and grow in the sport.
UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD - Kim van Buuren
Kim supports Volleyball Horsham by way of offering her time each and every week in the
canteen and at the door, purely in a voluntary role. Kim assisted at all volleyball events,
including presentation nights, annual tournaments and junior country championships, and even though she is not a committee member, helping to organise rosters, assisting with
administrative tasks always in a friendly and welcoming manner.
VETERAN OF THE YEAR AWARD - Warren Perris – Warracknabeal Lawn Bowls Club
In 2024, Warren Perris was crowned State Champion in the Bowls Victoria Over-60 State
Bowls Carnival in the men’s pair’s championship with his teammate Chris Young. The score
in the final was 14-9, with Warren and his teammate winning nine of fifteen ends.
COACH OF THE YEAR - Rebecca McIntyre – Laharum Football Netball Club & Horsham Basketball
Rebecca has had an outstanding year in her coaching achievements across both netball and basketball.
Head Coach of the Horsham Lady Hornets back in the Country Basketball league Finals.
Assistant coach to the victorious Victorian Under 20 Women’s Basketball Team at the National Championship in an undefeated tournament.
Head Coach of the Under 18 Horsham Hornets Girls Representative to a state championship Division three also undefeated.
She started the All Abilities Athlete basketball program at the HABA in conjunction with the WRSA and ran an inaugural Gary Bird tournament the first of its kind.
Head Coach of championship and undefeated Laharum A Grade Netball Team.
WIMMERA DESIGN AND PRINT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR - Hamish Roberts – Laharum Football Netball Club
Hamish Roberts has been an exceptional leader in his role as president of the Laharum Football and Netball Club (FNC) in 2024. His professionalism, vision, and tireless dedication have not only revitalized the club but also left a lasting impact on the wider community.
He has been a driving force behind the introduction of women’s football, writing the Women’s Football Charter for the club and playing a key role in the formation of the district’s first female football league.
He has worked tirelessly to fundraise and improve the club’s facilities.
His leadership was evident when he MC’d the club’s first Reconciliation Round, a landmark event celebrating inclusion and cultural understanding.
Hamish’s supported the league’s Check Mate Mental Health Round by hosting a guest speaker to address this important issue.
His ability to motivate, guide, and uplift others has earned him widespread respect and admiration within the club and beyond. Hamish Roberts embodies the spirit of this award through his exceptional contributions to the development of Laharum FNC, the district, and the sport as a whole.
WOMEN IN SPORT AWARD - Laelah Robertson – Volleyball Horsham
At Just 22, Laelah is an exception and an integral part of Volleyball Horsham. Laelah’s list of voluntary roles for Volleyball Horsham includes the following: Committee member portfolio social media; Academy girls’ coach, Captain of her A-grade team; Coached and refereed for her U15 girls’ team at the Bendigo Junior tournament and the Junior Country Champs; Coached U19 boys’ team at Horsham tournament and Volleyball Victoria Junior Open; Assisted with the development of the Ararat competition, and supported two junior shadow committee members in 2024 to learn about being on a committee.
As a player, she was recognized in the women’s Division One All-Star at the Country
Champs. She leads by example, making the sport great and encourages and nurtures female
participation.
SKILLINVEST JUNIOR SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR: IAN NIBLETT SCHOLARSHIP FUND RECIPIENT - Georgia Foster – Horsham Little Athletics
Georgia was nominated for earning a place in the Victorian State Track and Field
Championships in the 100m and 200m sprint, eventually claiming second in both
events. In the 100m dash, she missed first place by 0.01 of a second. Georgia made the
semifinals in the Under 18 Stawell Gift in 2024 as a 13-year-old. Georgia was selected by
Little Athletics Victoria to represent Victoria at the Colgate Games in New Zealand in early
2025.
WIMMERA TROPHIES AND GIFTS CLUB OF THE YEAR - Volleyball Horsham
Player registrations of over 300 during the year, making it the second-largest regional
Victorian association; Three major fundraising events raising $12,500 for Alzheimer’s research, support of the Dandy Family for Fletcher in his fight with leukemia and Beyond Blue; Team Success at the Victorian Country Championships, with Div 1 Women winning Silver, Div 1 Men winning Bronze and two players from the women’s team being recognized as all-stars (Kara Johnson and Laelah Robertson); Hosted the Junior Victorian Country Championships. In that tournament. U19 girls took gold, U17s boys and girls took silver and U15 boys took bronze; Further success at the Volleyball Victoria Junior open tournament with U19s girls
taking bronze and U16 girls taking silver; Four successive seasons of growth in participation, now with 46 teams, which is a 28% increase over that time; Women’s standalone competition growth over the last 3 years, now with 12 teams, which is a 100% increase over that time.
QUINN AND CO EYECARE SPORTING SCHOOL OF THE YEAR - Horsham College
In 2024, Horsham has had a year of outstanding results competing at School Sport Victoria events and made significant progress in cultivating an inclusive, engaging, and positive sporting culture.
Horsham College’s inclusive sporting program, extensive curriculum, and
specialist academies create a positive, supportive environment where every student can
develop their talents and thrive both in and out of the sporting arena.
In 2024, the porting program offered students numerous opportunities to compete in various sports, including AFL Football, Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Cross Country, Netball,
Swimming, Tennis, Clay Target Shooting and Volleyball. Students could progress from
school-level competitions to regional and state events, with over 1,000 student participation
occurrences throughout the year.
The Horsham College’s holistic approach ensures every student is supported, motivated and given the opportunity to participate and to reach their full potential. The overarching design of the school-wide sporting program is to foster physical, mental, and social well-being and to ensure an offering of diverse activities that cater to all abilities and interests.
TEAM OF THE YEAR - A Grade Netball Team – Laharum Football Netball Club
The A Grade Laharum Netball team has been involved in the past five A grade Horsham District Football Netball League grand finals. After losing the last two, the team bounced back in amazing fashion in 2024, going undefeated, 18 victories, 0 losses to claim the ultimate prize and the perfect season.
