Sportstar
2024
We gratefully acknowledge the support of
Sportstar of the Year previous winners
SENIOR
1987 & 88 Lee Ives (Sabre Sailing)
1989 Brett Sands (Waterskiing)
1990 Brett Sands (Waterskiing)
1991 David Dew (Cycling)
1992 Steve Atkins (Shooting)
JUNIOR
Peter Cannard (Kayaking)
Scott Dominguez (Waterskiing)
Travis Rankin (Cricket/Football)
Alwyn Holt (Judo)
Alwyn Holt (Judo)
1993 Cameron McMullan (Canoeing) Samantha Fraser (Rhym Gym)
1994 Joanne Hamilton (Waterskiing)
1995 Steve Atkins (Shooting)
1996 Brett Sands (Waterskiing)
1997 Cameron McMullan (Canoeing)
1998 Joanne Kerr (Shooting)
1999 Chris Young (Lawn Bowls)
2000 Jenni Murphy (Basketball)
2001 Matt Jones (Volleyball)
2002 Steve Calleja (Shooting)
2003 Michael Teggelove (Cycling)
2004 Claire Duke (Lawn Bowls)
2005 Kelly Norris (Shooting)
2006 Claire Duke (Lawn Bowls)
2007 Jimmy Wilson (Body Building)
2008 Tony Bond (Canoeing)
2009 Geo Nesbitt (Table Tennis)
Justin Waldron (Shooting)
Kate Glenn (Waterskiing)
Matt Jones (Volleyball)
Sarah Hardiman (Athletics)
Matt Jones (Volleyball)
Steve Calleja (Shooting)
Steve Calleja (Shooting)
Heidi Riordan (Athletics)
Emma Bennett (Golf)
Andrew Walker (Football)
Luke Hubbard (Tumbling)
Luke Hubbard (Tumbling)
Darcy Arnel (Waterskiing)
Jemima Draper (Equestrian)
Darcy Arnel (Waterskiing)
Jordan Williams (Football) Jack Wilson (Golf)
James Oberin (Hurdling)
2010 Kelly Norris (Shooting) Reece Sidebottom (Go-Karting)
2011 Guy Campbell (Football)
2012 Oliver Wines (Football)
2013 Jane Chalmers (Basketball)
Lloyd Woolman (Water Skiing)
Tom Leech (Soccer)
Jessica Pitts (Soccer)
2014 Brady Threlfall (Distance Runner) Jayden Gulson (Hockey)
2015 Aidyn Johnson (Football) Emma Barnes (Water Skiing)
Clayton Oliver (Football)
2016 Jayden Gulson (Hockey)
2017 Simon Buckley (Football)
2018 Marty Hore (Football)
2019 Todd Murphy (Cricket)
Brodie Kemp (Football)
2020–21 Col Pearse (Swimming)
2022 Kiara Dean (Shooting)
2023 Cassandra Millerick (Bowls)
Harley Reid (Football)
Col Pearse (Swimming)
Todd Murphy (Cricket)
Kiara Dean (Shooting)
Col Pearse (Swimming)
Fletcher Ball (Barefoot Skiing)
Fletcher Ball (Barefoot Skiing)
Levi Hone (Cycling)
The Echuca-Moama Sportstar of the Year Awards reflect the exemplary sporting achievements within our community.
Throughout its 37-year history, monthly Sportstar awards have been given to junior and senior athletes as they strive towards the annual night of nights.
Supported by the Riverine Herald, Moama Bowling Club and Echuca Travel Centre, the awards celebrate the regional love of sport.
We are delighted to welcome back our traditional presentation evening for the awards this year, to be held Monday, March 3.
At the gala awards evening we will announce the overall 2024 junior
and senior Sportstars, Spirit of Sport (volunteer), Coach, & Team/Club of the Year winners as well as our monthly junior and senior winners presented with medallions.
We hope you enjoy reading about each of our nominees. The range of sports is incredible yet again. From water skiing to tennis, BMX racing to lawn bowls, golf to motorbike speedway and athletics to team based sports such as football, cricket and netball..
— Echuca Moama Sportstar Co-ordinator
Spirit of Sport, Coach and Team/Club of the Year previous winners
2011
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Bernie Mcmanus
Lockington Bamawm United Football Netball Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kahl Oliver
Lockington Bamawm United Football Netball Club
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Lockington Bamawm United Football Netball Club
2012
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Renee Davison
Echuca Moama Hockey Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Daryl Brown Moama Echuca Border Raiders
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Moama Echuca Border Raiders — Senior Women’s Team
2013
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Matthew Wickham Wickham Martial Arts
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Lockington Bamawm United Football Club 2014
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Nikki Cohen
Echuca Moama Little Athletics Club & Echuca Masters Football Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Michael Gulson Echuca Moama Hockey Club
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Echuca & District Netball Association 17s
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Steve Gray Echuca Tri Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Grant Matthews
Echuca
Echuca
COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Beattie
Echuca United Football Netball Club
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Laurie Edmondstone
Mick McInnes
COACH OF THE YEAR
Echuca Football Netball Team — Women’s Team
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Moama Football Netball Club — A-Grade Netball
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Dave Colbourne
COACH OF THE YEAR
Gina Pearson
Echuce Football Netball Club — Netball
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Echuca Gun Club 2019
COACH OF THE YEAR
Leo Tenace
Echuca Football Netball Club & Echuca Basketball Association
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR
Echuca Basketball Association
2022
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Alf Parsons — Show jumping
Kirk Teasdale — Cricket
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrew Walker & Simon Maddox
Echuca Football Netball Club
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR
Echuca Football Netball Club
2023
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Vince Jessen — EFNC Volunteer
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrew Walker, Simon Maddox & Sam Reid
Echuca Football Netball Club
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR
Echuca Football Netball Club
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Kate Carlile
Echuca Football Netball Club & Echuca Cricket Club
Echuca Moama
Sportstar
LEVI HONE — CYCLING
The Echuca Moama Cycling Club product has had a roller-coaster of a year that provided significant career developments along with a few setbacks.
In January, Hone put in a phenomenal ride to finish fourth in the under-19 road race at the 2024 AusCycling Road National Championships in Buninyong.
Following up this effort he placed eighth in the Oceania Continental Championships Road Race as well as 17th in the individual time trial.
He was then given a national representation opportunity, being selected for the ARA Australian Cycling Team to travel Europe to compete in UCI Junior Nations Cup events in May and June.
The one event he participated in for his country was the Course De La Paix Juniors in the Czech Republic, competing in four stages in as many days before an injury prevented him from riding for the remainder of the schedule.
He finished 57th in the general classification with the highest position of 31 at the end of
stage three.
After a month of recovery, he returned to racing for the under-19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant, performing well in multiple road races in the south of France and Italy.
He finished 20th in the Tour Region Sud under-19 race, 39th in the La “Classic Region Sud under-19” and 40th in the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour, all of which took place in France and 60h in the Gran Premio “Sportivi Loria” in Italy.
Hone was under contract with one of the most prestigious and longest tenured racing teams in Australia, BridgeLane, but found himself without a deal after the team shut its doors after over 25 years in December.
ELISE NAPIER — BASKETBALL
Promising Echuca basketballer Elise Napier continues to knock down development opportunities on the court.
After a three-day try-out in March, The Echuca Pirates centre was announced as part of the under-16 Victorian Country representative team.
At the championships, Napier’s Vic Country side finished third in Pool A with a record of 4-2, claiming wins over NSW, NT, WA Country and Tasmania.
Napier had stellar individual statistics for the regular competition with her best games coming against SA Metro and Tasmania where she tallied 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal as well as eight points, eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks, respectively.
In the final’s series, Napier’s Vic Country played three games, winning two games against NSW Metro and WA Metro.
Napier came into a league of her own in the finals with her best performance coming
against Vic Metro where she scored a monster double-double of 25 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
Her next best game came in the win over WA Metro where she recorded another doubledouble stat line of 12 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Napier also featured for the Wangaratta Bushrangers in the under-16 girls Victorian Junior Basketball League three.
Her side finished fourth on the ladder but managed to make it to the grand final, falling short by a point to Camberwell in a thriller, Napier top scored with 11 points for the match.
ISABELLA CROSSMAN — TENNIS
Torrumbarry tennis ace Isabella Crossman has been recognised for her outstanding achievements in the sport over the past year, being named as the Bendigo Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year for 2023-2024.
The hotshot received the Gary Tierney Memorial Scholarship Award at a gala ceremony on Friday, May 17. It was presented by John McGrath, a long-time family friend of Tierney.
While many of her major accomplishments came in 2023 as Crossman took a step away from tennis to focus on her VCE, she also had some success at W35 events in 2024 particularly in doubles.
Pairing with Laquisa Khan, Crossman reached the semi-finals of the W35 event in Mildura in March, also progressing to the quarters of the Swan Hill tournament with partner Olivia Quigley.
Her impressive feats also include being a member of both the Victorian Tennis Australia State Development Team and Kooyong Lawn
Tennis Club State Grade premiership-winning team, while achieving an International Tennis Federation Junior ranking of 292nd globally as of May 2024.
After inquiring about playing Tennis in the USA as part of the College system and due to her stellar junior tennis career, she was offered a scholarship to study and play at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona a NCAA Div 1 program that plays in the Western Athletics Conference.
IMOGENE MCLEAN — BMX RACING
10-year-old Imogene is one of the best young BMX riders in Australia.
She was invited to the United States to represent her country and ride in the 2024 BMX Racing World Championships in May, held in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The World Championships are the most prestigious event on the BMX racing calendar.
The McLean family have been Echuca residents for more than a year, with Imogene and her brother Samson, who also rode in the US, born in Mildura.
Imogene competed in both the 20” and Cruiser classes at the World Championships, earning qualification based on impressive domestic results.
She is ranked second in Victoria and sixth in Australia in her age group for Cruiser class bikes and is fourth in the state in the 20“class.
The siblings ride for Team 5ive and keep a busy schedule, training several times a week both in Shepparton and Bendigo — the closest tracks to Echuca — as well as travelling the
state to compete in events.
Imogene finished 32nd in the 8-12-year-old Cruiser category and 57th in the 20“class in the first stage competition at the World Championships but was unable to progress past that round.
Despite this, attending a world championship for the first time at such a young age is an invaluable experience for the talented youngster.
GRACE MOYLE — CRICKET
Echuca cricket young gun Grace Moyle was again named to the 2024/25 Under-19 Female Emerging Players Program Squad after another strong season at club level.
The program aims to prepare players for the rigours of professional cricket through continued exposure to high-level competition such as Victorian Premier Cricket and the Under-19 National Championships.
Moyle is no stranger to the big stage, having represented Vic Country as part of its Under-19 National Championship squad in 2023.
Moyle was awarded the Under-18 Player of the Tournament for her performance playing for Carlton in the 2023–24 Women’s premier under-18 competition.
Moyle compiled 189 runs at an average of 31.5 in six innings in the one-day competition, a tally that helped Carlton reach the competition final, highlighted by a massive 96 from 120 balls against Box Hill.
Suiting up for Carlton in round one of the 2024-25 Victorian Premier Cricket Women’s
Firsts T20 competition in the first week of October, Moyle blasted a team-high 39 runs batting at four during the Blues’ win over Essendon Maribyrnong Park.
Moyle has also played for Carlton in their first-grade side and under-18’s outfit in one day formats, her highest score playing first grade so far was 19 against Ringwood.
Yet, Moyle has excelled in the under-18’s side so far this season. She has made a start in every game she has batted, notching totals of 78, 58, 22, 38 and 45.
SCARLETT SOUTHERN — ATHLETICS
Representing regional Australia at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Fiji was a huge milestone for athlete Scarlett Southern.
Scarlett competed in the 400m and 800m finals, placing sixth in both, and the 4 x 400m mixed relay final, placing third and bringing home a bronze medal.
Scarlett’s times were consistent, and she was half-a-second off a personal best in the 400m, finishing in 58.83 seconds, and a second off a PB in the 800m.
Southern’s all-time personal bests all occurred in November and December, with two of these new personal records came at the AllSchools Athletics Championships in Brisbane where she clocked 58.12 in the 400m and placed third in the final and 3:34 as part of the mix 4x400m relay and placed 2nd in the final. She also tallied a new PB for the 800m and 200m at the Victorian All-Schools Championships in Melbourne in November, clocking 2:19 for the 800m and 26:40 in the 200m, coming third.
By the end of 2024, Southern was ranked 77th in Australia and 1935th in the world for the female 400m.
On December 31, 2024, she had a ranking of 21,820 with a point score of 897 for the Women’s Overall Athletics rankings.
Sportstar
CODY WALKER — FOOTBALL
Cody Walker was named at rover and as captain of the All-Australian team for the under-16 AFL National Development Championships.
Walker’s Vic Country side took out pool A ahead of South Australia, Vic Metro and Western Australia.
Along with being named as captain of the All-Australian team, Walker was selected by his coaches as Vic Country’s MVP of the competition.
Walker averaged 28 disposals (13 contested), three marks and seven clearances in the competition.
In profiling the All-Australian selections, AFL national talent and international manager Kevin Sheehan described Walker as “a stoppage star with his ability to read the ball and extract it from congestion, then use it effectively by hand and foot”.
Walker made four appearances for Echuca’s thirds before being called up to the seniors for the Murray Bombers’ round 10 meeting with
Shepparton Bears.
In his four appearances in the top grade, Walker has averaged 18.3 disposals (eight contested) 1.3 clearances, 6.3 inside 50s and 2.7 intercept possessions to go along with five goals.
Walker also made three appearances for the Bendigo Pioneers, and eight for the championship winning Echuca thirds throughout the season, where he was named in the under-18s best for Echuca’s 1-point grand final win over Shepparton Swans.
SAGE DENNIS — FOOTBALL
Dennis has played for both Echuca United and Bendigo Pioneers this past year and was selected to be part of the under-15 Victorian girls, School Sport Victoria team which competed in School Sport Nationals in Queensland in August.
Following some stellar performances in that competition, Dennis was named in the Under-15 All Australian Team.
Dennis was also named in the best players list for Echuca United Youth Girls in their grand final victory of Shepparton United at Deakin Oval on Sunday, August 4.
As a lynchpin of the Eagles lineup, Dennis went undefeated through that competition in 2024 where she played 11 games named in the best in each of them.
She played two games as part of the Goulburn Murray Women’s League under-18 representative side, two games for the Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League where she earned one best player nod.
She featured in two games in the 2024 V-Line
Cup, where she appeared on the best players list both times and kicked one goal.
JAMES BARRAT — FOOTBALL
After a 2023 season that was wiped out by a navicular injury, Barrat’s main aim for 2024 was to get back to full fitness.
He did that, and went on to dominate at both ends of the ground. Barrat managed 22 goals from 13 CTL games having switched to a key defensive post in the second half of the season.
Barrat would also perform strongly at the under-18 National Championships and represented Essendon at VFL level late in the season against Sandringham.
He was named at full back in the Rookie Me Central Team of the Year for his efforts not only in said position, but also throughout the course of the year.
The Bendigo Pioneers best and fairest in 2024, Barrat’s return season rebounded his draft stock in a big way.
After a strong year, which saw him come back from the brink of a potentially career threatening injury, Barrat and his community in Leitchville-Gunbower had all eyes on the 2024 AFL Draft.
After not being taken in the first round, he was quickly scooped up in the second round.
Barrat was taken with pick number 32 by St Kilda where he would reunite with Pioneers teammate, best friend and number eight pick, Tobie Travaglia at the Saints.
D’ARCY WHYTE — GOLF
Echuca College student D’Arcy Whyte took home a silver medal when he represented Team Victoria at the School Sport Australia 18-and-Under Golf Championships in Canberra.
Whyte, a local golfing young gun, is no stranger to performing well in regional tournaments, having won the Reg Taylor Memorial Junior Championships at Rich River Golf Club twice in 2020 and 2023 while finishing runner-up in 2021 and 2022.
Whyte was selected to represent Team Victoria in the week-long championship competition in Canberra from Monday, August 19, to Friday, August 23.
Throughout the program, the golfers played 36 holes every day across all four competition days, with the individual stroke play event occurring on the first day of the competition.
The remaining three days of golf were match play, where six players in each state team played against each other in a round-robin competition.
Whyte shot three over on the first 18 holes on
Tuesday, following up with three under on the second 18 to finish even.
This effort placed him ninth overall in the gross event and second in the nett event, where he received a silver medal for his efforts. He also tallied the best score for Team Victoria Boys on the first day.
Whyte lost his matches against Queensland and NSW on Tuesday in the match play.
He then found form and beat WA, SA and ACT in the remaining two days of competition.
Whyte won the highest points in match play within the Team Victoria Boys’ squad, which finished fourth.
OCTOBER
JACOB BRIGHTON — LAWN BOWLS
Brighton continues to develop into one of the brightest young bowling talents in the region.
Brighton and the Steamers triumphed over South Bendigo to be crowned champions of The Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League for the 2023-24 pennant season.
He and the Steamers would fall just short of claiming the Bowls Victoria Weekend State Pennant title.
Brighton took silver at the under-18 state championships in the open triples in April and, as a junior, reached the knockout rounds in the men’s single at the 2024 Australian Bowls Open in June.
Brighton continued to take on older bowlers at the highest level, finishing runner-up at the inaugural Victorian Indoor Championships. The young Steamer featured in the junior TriSeries against NSW and Qld, where Brighton’s Victoria were winners in the boys’ division.
Brighton featured in the Victorian side that took out the School Sports Australia under-18
Championship in September and was named in the All-Australian side for the tournament.
The under-18 National Championships saw Brighton rank fourth in the triples and fours.
With a packed list of accomplishments at school, junior and senior level, and several more years before he leaves the junior ranks, Brighton’s resume looks only set to grow in 2025.
DECEMBER
NATE SMITH — MOTORBIKE SPEEDWAY
Local Nate Smith rocketed past the competition in 2024, scoring impressive results in several motorbike speedway state titles.
Nate’s starring performance came in Adelaide on November 30 at the South Australian under-16 250cc championships — the local rider winning out at the Gillman Speedway.
He took two of the four heats of competition, before prevailing in the final to claim the title.
Nate has been all over the competition circuit, finishing fourth at the Queensland titles in October and winning all four of his races at the Broadford club championships.
What made his accomplishments more remarkable is the fact Smith only took up the sport around a year ago and the 14-year-old is competing against riders almost two years older than him in the under-16s.
His impressive progress has put more lofty goals in reach for Nate, who could make a career from riding if he continues his trajectory.
Riders aren’t typically picked up for European
teams until the age of 16, so Nate has two years of further development before that dream could become a reality.
Smith was selected to the FIM Speedway Grand Prix Academy, which came to Australia in January to provide high-level coaching to select athletes.
JANUARY
KIARA DEAN — CLAY TARGET SHOOTING
Despite barely missing out on securing one of two spots at the 2024 Paris Olympics, shooting star Kiara Dean still had a successful year.
In March, Dean took the silver medal at the ISSF national titles, one of four domestic qualifying events for the 2024 games. She shot a personal best score of 115.
She also claimed the Commonwealth Ladies Silver medal at the same event.
Dean has been on the rise over the last several years, winning the junior world championship in 2022, and the Echuca-Moama senior Sportstar in the same year.
Dean also cleaned up at the 2024 Universal Trench Commonwealth titles claiming the overall ladies’ winner, second in the AA Open and the 75 target break badge which is an equal Australian ladies record.
She achieved a personal best at the event with a 146/150 which is a good start for her at the 2025 World Championships Selection Series.
At the 2024 International Grand Prix in Taipei,
Dean secured the gold medal Ladies team, silver medal individual and silver medal mixed teams.
Dean flew the Australian flag as the official flag bearer for her country at the 2024 Universal Trench World Championships.
FEBRUARY
GRACE HAMMOND — NETBALL
Tongala premiership coach Grace Hammond played a prominent role in the inaugural Bendigo Strikers Victorian Netball League season, having been announced as captain of the under-23 squad.
The 22-year-old was appointed skipper of the side following a vote by teammates and coaches, particularly after Tongala won the 2023 GVL A-grade netball season where she was a player-coach.
While the Strikers didn’t have the most successful season, finishing the 2024 season in second last with a record of 4-18, it was a decent first outing for a side not overly experienced at that level.
The Strikers had to wait until round seven to claim their first victory in a single-point thriller against Western Warriors.
They won back-to-back games against Geelong Cougars and Gippsland Stars in rounds 12 and 13 and claimed another scalp over the Warriors again in a two-point round 18 clash.
Hammond led from the front for the Strikers in 2024, playing every game for her side primarily in wing defence but made cameos as centre when required.
Hammond played a mammoth total of 1057 minutes for the under-23 Strikers, embodying what it means to be a true leader and model for her players.
Hammond was awarded the inaugural Strikers Spirit award alongside Heather Oliver for upholding the Strikers’ values on and off the court and for engagement with the community.
APRIL
FLETCHER BALL — BAREFOOT WATERSKIING
It was a big year for barefoot water-skier Fletcher Ball. Not only did he dominate at the Australian Barefoot Water Ski Championships, but he also placed highly at the 2024 International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation World Barefoot Championships in Florida.
At the Australian championships, Ball earned his first national title among the senior ranks at Bonney’s Water Ski Park in Bladivis, Western Australia, racking up 2977.01 points to take out the overall accolade in the open men division. The overall win saw the young gun return to the world championships once again as a member of the Australian team, alongside veteran Brett Sands.
Unfortunately for the pair, the world championships were cut short by Hurricane Milton, the second-most intense Atlantic Hurricane ever recorded decimated Florida. Before the hurricane wiped out proceedings, Ball took out the slalom event and earned second place overall in the world
championships after placing second in the tricks event and 13th in the jumps.
JACK MATTHEWS — MUAY THAI
Kyabram’s Jack Matthews claimed the WBC Muay Thai Victorian Super Lightweight Championship belt in February.
After failing to capture the title at a heavier weight last year, Matthews pounced on his second chance, knocking down opponent Quang Pham three times within three rounds to earn the win by TKO at Melbourne Pavilion.
Matthews also fought in Rebellion Muaythai 31 who put in a dominant showing against Ruariri McCoey, taking the bout by unanimous decision in three rounds.
Matthews has risen quickly within Muay Thai after beginning his training at Wickhams martial arts in Echuca, the win over McCoey improving his record to 11-3 in the middle of 2024.
In July, at Powerhouse XII Matthews challenged Jye Van Polen for the WMO title but was defeated by decision.
MARCH
CASSANDRA MILLERICK — LAWN BOWLS
The 2023 Senior Sports Star Award winner continues to set the world of bowls alight, adding another strong year of achievements to her career resume.
Despite missing the finals of BPL20, Millerick and the Steamers triumphed over South Bendigo to be crowned champions of The Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League.
Millerick was also named for the women’s squad of the Bowls Victoria City vs Country Series as well as participating as part of Moama in the Bowls Victoria Open.
In that tournament, she was awarded the Barb Gilbert medal for player of the tournament after logging wins in the women’s triples, along with Moama teammate Olivia Cartwright, and in the women’s pairs.
Millerick also made it to the round of 16 in the women’s singles and was a quarter finalist in the mixed pairs, teaming with fellow Steamer Kevin Anderson.
At the 2024 Australian Bowls Open on the
Gold Coast, Millerick wasn’t able to repeat her run to the singles title in 2023, but she and fellow Moama player Emma Simmonds gave a good account of themselves in the fours, progressing to the final along with partners Kira Bourke and Kylie Whitehead.
Millerick’s quartet put in impressive performances throughout the tournament, highlighted by scoring six shots in the final three ends of their semi-final to turn around a 13-11 deficit and progress to the final.
Millerick was named the number five female bowler in the world in the inaugural World Bowls Series rankings in July.
EMMA SIMMONDS — LAWN BOWLS
Moama Steamer Emma Simmonds joined the Steamers in taking out South Bendigo to be crowned champions of The Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League.
The Steamers would finish runner-up in the Bowls Victoria State Weekend Pennant event.
Simmonds and fellow Moama bowler
Cassandra Millerick gave a good account of themselves in the 2024 Australia Bowls Open in the fours, progressing to the final along with partners Kira Bourke and Kylie Whitehead.
Simmonds quartet put in impressive performances throughout the tournament, highlighted by scoring six shots in the final three ends of their semi-final to turn around a 13-11 deficit and progress to the final.
Simmonds was selected for the City vs Country Series and remains a mainstay of representative bowls, retaining her place in the Victoria women’s squad for the State Side series against Queensland in September and for the nationals in October.
Victoria compiled a 5-2 record in the State Series finishing third overall.
ALEXIS GREGOR — FOOTBALL
Moama’s Alexis Gregor went into the first fully national AFLW draft as a strong chance at a top 20 placing but became one of the early bolters of the night when she was taken with the number 10 pick by Geelong.
Gregor was told that there was serious interest from Geelong but was expecting she would be selected by the Cats later in the night.
Gregor was named in the 28-woman squad to represent Victoria Country at the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships under-18 girls.
She participated in all three of Vic Country’s fixtures, starting off the bench on each occasion.
She averaged 12 disposals, 2.7 marks and 2.3 tackles in the competition.
Gregor has earned her place among the best under-18s in Victoria after strong performances in the Coates Talent League Girls, where she co-captains the Bendigo Pioneers.
As a target for the Pioneers, Gregor showcased her talents up front and in defence,
kicking nine goals and being named among the best eight times in fourteen appearances.
She was also a finalist in the Coates Talent League Personal Growth Award, which recognises a player who demonstrates outstanding leadership and contributions to their community.
Gregor also competed for the under-23 All Stars against the AFLW Academy.
OLIVIA CARTWRIGHT — LAWN BOWLS
A relative young gun in the world of bowls, Olivia Cartwright continues to impress year after year, with 2024 being no exception.
Cartwright and the Steamers triumphed over South Bendigo to be crowned champions of The Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League.
Cartwright was also named for the women’s squad of the Bowls Victoria City vs Country Series as well as participating as part of Moama in the Bowls Victoria Open.
In that tournament, she logged wins in the Victorian Open Women’s Triples, along with Moama teammate Cassandra Millerick.
Cartwright was selected as part of the Victorian state squad in the open women’s squad for the State Side Series against Queensland in September, and for the nationals in October.
At the Australian Bowls Open Cartwright was the strongest local competitor in the women’s singles and pairs, progressing to the quarterfinals in the singles and advancing to the last four in the pairs, alongside partner Laura Butler.
Cartwright made her national debut, selected
in the Australian Performance Pathways side at the Oceania Challenge.
In the women’s triples her trio powered through the competition in group and knockout play unblemished to claim gold as the Pacific region’s best.
A tight-fisted final against Samoa proved enough for gold in addition to silver in the fours for Cartwright, who helped propel Australia’s side to a competition-best haul of four golds and a silver.
JACK RUSSELL — FOOTBALL
Moama’s senior football captain and perennial performer, Jack Russell, affectionately known as “Dogga” was jointly awarded the Murray Football League’s best-and-fairest medal for 2024 alongside Cobram captain Sam Beasley.
For the first time since 2017, a Moama footballer received the O’Dwyer Medal and tallied 22 votes to take out the award.
Russell placed in the top three for medal voting nine times throughout the season (half the games) but was picked as best-on-ground four times and picked up two votes in the other five rounds he was selected.
He appeared in all 18 season games for Moama and kicked 19 goals, guiding them to the precipice of a grand final but ultimately falling short to Finley in a preliminary final thriller.
This impressive campaign would prove to be Russell’s last for Moama as he has linked up with GVL side Kyabram for 2025.
JOBE SHANAHAN — FOOTBALL
Football hot-shot Jobe Shanahan had a big year that included doing what every young footballer in Australia dreams of.
After a stellar 2024 season for both Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League and for Moama, the 195cm key forward was poised to be taken highly in the 2024 AFL Draft.
In a selection pool filled to the brim with midfielders, Shanahan was a unique proposition, particularly after showing interest in potentially playing a key defensive role as well.
Expected to go in the top 20, Shanahan became a surprise slider on draft night when he wasn’t picked up in the first round.
Instantly, he became the highest rated player heading into night two with the West Coast Eagles not waiting long to snag the talents of the Moama native at pick 30.
He played 11 games for the Pioneers in the 2024 season kicking 22 goals and finding himself on the best on ground list six times.
Playing just three games for Moama in the pointy end of the season, Shanahan took flight and bagged seven goals and one appearance on the best players list.
At the AFL National Championships under-18 competition playing for the Allies, Shanahan kicked five goals across four games up front, earning two best player lists.
His most eye-popping performances of the season came in his three games for Essendon’s VFL side where, he drilled 11 majors and earned himself one best player nod, for his five-goal bag against Coburg.
SARAH MULKEARNS
— ECHUCA MOAMA TRIATHLON CLUB
Sarah has been a member and volunteer of the Echuca Moama Triathlon Club for the past four years since moving back to Echuca and has engrossed herself in lending her coaching and event planning experience and expertise to the Echuca Moama Triathlon Club.
In her first year with the Tri Club, Sarah was nominated and accepted as the Clubs Secretary and Club Coach.
The following year she also took on the huge role of the race director for the clubs annual Multisport Weekend and Sweat vs Steam.
In the last three years Sarah, along with her team has helped raise over $43,000 from Sweat vs Steam that is donated back to local community schools, groups, clubs and individuals.
Sarah has helped make the Multisport Weekend a sell out event in the past two years and continues to improve the event each year she has been involved.
Sarah gives tirelessly back to the sporting community, regularly helping out with other sporting clubs, plans an annual ‘Pub to Pub’ Run for locals, started up the Echuca Moama Run Club and Women on Two wheels - aiming to get more women riding bikes.
For the past 17 years, she has been a fulltime professional triathlon and endurance coach, with her own coaching business, Complete Per4mance Coaching.
In June of 2024, she was awarded Victorians Coach of the Year at the AusTriathlon Victorian Annual Awards.
She began coaching Reagan Hollioake and transformed her from an age group athlete to a multiple winning full-time professional athlete within three years.
Sarahs passion for triathlon, running, cycling and endurance sports reins from her own achievements in the sport as a former elite triathlete and racing over the world including the Half Ironman and Ironman World Championships over the years.
LISA BAKER — ECHUCA MOAMA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Echuca Moama Basketball Association
president Lisa Baker was named the 2024 Female Volunteer of the Year by the Victoria Country Commission of Basketball Victoria for her services in facilitating growth and dedication to Echuca basketball.
A club stalwart, Baker has been president of Echuca Basketball Association for the past three years and off and on the committee for two decades, having first become heavily involved with the club when she was 13.
The criteria for the award were volunteering, dedication to the club, growing the club, being proactive and organising programs.
She emphasised that while she was proud to be bestowed with the award, it was a team effort, and she wouldn’t have been able to do it without strong committee support.
Baker highlighted how being recognised for her efforts reassured her that all the time and energy she poured into the club every day was worth it.
Baker’s passion for basketball and the Echuca club is as strong as ever and the current president has no plans to step away from the club any time soon.
BEN TREVENA — ECHUCA MOAMA ROCKETS ALL-ABILITIES FOOTBALL CLUB
Ben Trevena of the Echuca Moama Rockets all-abilities football club was recognised as the AFL Victoria Disability Inclusion Ambassador of the Year.
Trevena was nominated by all-abilities league officials in Shepparton in honour of his efforts behind the scenes at the Rockets, helping out as an assistant with both the senior and junior sides.
Trevena has been volunteering with the Rockets for about 10 years, since his son linked up with the club.
Thanks, in part, to Trevena’s efforts, the Rockets have been on an upswing recently, hitting record overall numbers in 2024.
Trevena is continuing to work towards growing all-abilities football in the region, encouraging more volunteers to get involved and support the Rockets in the 2025 season.
COOMA CRICKET CLUB
Cooma Cricket Club have been successful in developing a Senior Women’s team which, for its rural location with a population of less than 100, is impressive.
Cooma senior women’s team, in just their second year of competition, have gone from dead last winning one game in their first season to now, at one stage, equal fourth out of eleven teams. An impressive achievement considering that their competition are much bigger clubs and towns such as Echuca, Moama, Rochester, Shepparton, etc.
Cooma senior women’s team and men’s senior teams show teamwork, dedication and sportsmanship always.
Being such a rural club, it takes endless work and volunteering to keep the club running.
The players display immense teamwork and dedication on the field and off, to keep the club alive.
For many years, most of the money for the club has been raised by our players cutting wood and delivering to locals in the Kyabram area.
Cooma B-grade team currently sit first in their competition, three wins ahead of any other team in the league, with nine wins and one loss.
This is such an achievement considering the rural area and competition of much larger clubs around.
BETTY MCCOOMB
— SOUTHERN 80 AND EDNA
For the past 20 years Betty McCoomb has been the secretary of the Moama water sports club and has functioned as president and a coach for Echuca District Netball Association.
Prior to her paid role as secretary for the water sports club she was a volunteer for many years, helping wherever needed on Southern 80 weekend.
Once she became secretary, it was Betty’s job to run the Southern 80 and organise the famous event, liaising with community groups, emergency services, competitors and attendees to make sure the event ran smoothly.
She was the organisational mastermind behind the Southern 80 and she was also extremely personable in that role, she made people feel included and involved.
She worked tirelessly and extra hours to put the race on and make sure it ran in the best possible fashion; Betty has been a stalwart and valued member of the club
Betty’s community reach also extends to her heavy involvement with EDNA, she is a former president and a coach, encouraging young juniors to come through the ranks.
She is also a B-reserve netball coach for Echuca Football Netball Club, so she is heavily involved with netball in the region having played and fostered that love of the game since she was a child.
Her main driving factor is seeing kids achieve, when her father died, Betty instigated
ECHUCA FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB
2024 was once again a stellar season for the Echuca Football Netball Club, the Murray Bombers showing dominance across all grades of football.
The three football sides got it done in various ways on Goulburn Valley League grand final day, the thirds coming from behind to win at the death by a point, the reserves surging late after a tight contest, and the seniors exercising absolute dominance in a recordsetting triumph.
The three sides were
joined by two netball grand finalists, the Murray Bombers under-15s kicking off the day with victory in their decider.
The A-grade netballers were within a game of replicating their 2023 success but couldn’t get past Euroa on the final day. The senior women also emerged victorious, going 12-2 throughout the home and away season of its title defence before pipping Shepparton United in a single-point thriller to claim the crown once more.
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
ECHUCA CRICKET CLUB
Echuca was the club to beat in top-grade cricket in 2024.
The men’s senior side claimed the McMahon Shield for the third successive season, defeating Moama in a thrilling final that came down to the last couple of overs.
After a mixed regular season, Echuca surged late to once again top the table heading into finals before going on to claim the title.
The feat was replicated by the Echuca women’s side, who didn’t just upset previously undefeated Mooroopna in the grand final but did so in dominant fashion, recording a ninewicket win.
The club also featured in grand finals in B-grade Goulburn, D-grade, and under-15s, adding to a strong overall Goulburn Murray Cricket campaign
BORDER RAIDERS FOOTBALL CLUB
The Border Raiders enjoyed a strong set of results in the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League in 2024, walking away with three championships and a league promotion.
The year was headlined by the women’s side, who earned their way up to the BASL’s League one, topping the league over the regular season, before claiming their second straight finals series to lift the Super Cup.
The club also found success in its junior ranks, the under-14A boys and under-12B girls sides making it three for the Border Raiders on grand final weekend.
The club has been working to promote inclusivity and engagement within the sport by instituting a women’s day in 2024, creating a festival environment around a packed day of fixtures.
Make sure you are up to date with all things football and netball in the Goulburn Valley, Murray, Kyabram District, Picola District and AFL Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls leagues. Inside the Riverine Herald on Friday, March 28.
Winner of the award for the last two years (along with Sam Reid in 2023) Maddox and Walker were again celebrating a Goulburn Valley League senior football premiership in 2024.
After only dropping a single game in the regular season, Maddox and Walker’s Echuca side stormed through the finals, capped off with a dominant performance over Shepparton Bears, the Murray Bombers recording the highest final score 22.22 (154) and the largest winning margin (96) in GVL history.
Having now won three straight titles, the professionalism and overall quality of this Echuca side puts it among the best to have competed in the GVL.
With all three football sides training together, the professionalism instilled by Maddox and Walker has also trickled down into the lower grades, plenty of players with senior experience using those skills to guide the
COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
SIMON MADDOX AND ANDREW WALKER — ECHUCA FNC
The dominance of Echuca United in the Goulburn Murray Girls League in 2024 can’t be overstated.
From winning just two games in 2023, coach Jason Dennis led the Eagles to not just an undefeated season, but one where his side swept away the competition with ruthless efficiency.
Over 14 regular season games, Echuca United boasted an eye-watering percentage of 749.11% scoring 1266 points and leaking only 169.
The perfect run was completed with a threegoal win over Shepparton United on grand final day, earning a spotless 16-0 record for the year
Dennis helped develop several of the leading players in the competition, including league best-and-fairest and leading goalkicker Harper Delamare and Victorian representative Sage
ASH WATSON — ROCHESTER FNC
reserves and thirds sides to flags of their own this year.
With Walker stepping away after the 2024 season, it is safe to say his pairing with Maddox will be remembered as one of the most successful in the club’s history.
JASON DENNIS — ECHUCA UNITED YOUTH GIRLS
BELINDA LEES — ECHUCA NETBALL A-GRADE
On the back of a momentous A-grade grand final victory over Euroa in 023, Lees’ girls in green looked to defend their title in 2024.
After getting off to a slow start, Lees’ Echuca rounded into form, eventually ending the season with a 14-4-1 record and a third-place
Not only did Lees’ lead her team from the coaches’ box, but she also dominated in front of goal as the starting goal attack.
A big part of Lees’ coaching throughout 2024 was the development of attacking partner and first year A-grade player, Holly Chadwick who thrived throughout the season in large part thanks the Lees’ guidance.
Known throughout the competition as a big game player, Lees’ excellence when it counts on the court sets her apart from the rest of the competition and provides a steady hand and cool demeanour as a coach in those tough
So much so that she managed to navigate her side to back-to-back grand finals, unfortunately
they were the bridesmaids in 2024 after a hardfought 2023 grand final rematch against Euroa.
Ash Watson’s first season in charge (in 2023) didn’t bring the successes that Rochester may have hoped for, but the club legend built on that foundation in 2024 to grow the Tigers into one of the Goulburn Valley League’s top contenders.
Watson improved Rochester from 4-14 and a tenth-placed finish in 2023 to 13-5 and third in 2024, a nine-game turnaround.
The Tigers were the only side to defeat the rampant Echuca in 2024 and were within a game of a grand final appearance, going down to Shepparton Bears in the preliminary final. Watson’s efforts with Rochester saw him awarded Senior Coach of the Year at the AFL Victoria Community Awards.
AMELIA RICHARDSON AND PAIGE PINSON — BORDER RAIDERS FOOTBALL CLUB WOMEN’S TEAM
Coaching duo Amelia Richardson and Paige Pinson had enormous success in 2024, leading the women’s side to a historic trophy double.
Winning the premiership in BASL 2 in 2024 meant that the side will be promoted to BASL 1 in 2025 where the team will face stiffer competition in the top flight.
The women also won the Super Cup, going back-to-back after winning in 2023, claiming all the major chocolates for the year.
Coaches Richardson and Pinson have had an active hand in promoting soccer in the region and were described by the club as “ambassadors for women’s sport”.
Pinson conducts one-on-one coaching with two players in the women’s team while also organising to have a goalkeeping coach come once a week to develop the team.
She also volunteers for coaching, practice matches, and games for MESA league at Moama Border Raiders.
Meanwhile, it was Amelia’s first year
coaching soccer but has experience in coaching other sports such as sailing, water skiing, and snow skiing.
Over an almost 20-year career playing soccer, Amelia has previously played as a goalkeeper in Sydney and as a defender at the Border Raiders.
She has also been a driving force along with club president Ryan Quirk behind the Women’s Day festivities.
DAMIEN DALZIEL — ECHUCA WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
As head coach for Echuca senior women for 2023 and 2024, Dalziel steered his side to backto-back premierships.
Having coached the EFNC women’s football team for an extended period, “Dangers” has become an institution within the club.
In the past five seasons, Dalziel steered the senior women’s side to the grand final but lost at the big dance three time in a row.
But in 2023, the side finally broke through claiming the title of NCWL premiers for the first time and in a dominant 2024 season made it back-to-back wins.
The senior women went 12-2 throughout the home and away season of its title defence before pipping Shepparton United in a singlepoint thriller to claim the crown once more.
Dalziel originally announced his retirement after then 2023 season, but felt there was more in the tank for 2024 and once again guided his side to the pinnacle of country women’s football.
