Elsie takes the sports honours

Tatura’s Elsie Boyer scooped the sporting pool at this year’s Greater Shepparton City Council Australia Day awards.

The 18-year-old was named the Greater Shepparton Sportsperson of the Year and the Tatura Sportsperson of the Year.

For Elsie, both awards were a complete surprise.

She was told she had netball training with her teammates at Tatura Football Netall Club in the morning, and then all the netballers were going to Tatura’s Australia Day awards as a group.

It wasn’t until she arrived at Victory Hall and opened the booklet of Australia Day proceedings that a familiar name jumped out at her. It was her own.

“It’s a real honour to win the (council-wide) award,” Elsie said.

“Sometimes coming from a small town you don’t get recognised as much.”

She thanked her family for supporting her, and paid special tribute to everyone at Tatura Football Netball Club many of whom were at the Australia Day ceremony.

“It’s a credit to the support group behind me and the club to be able to play my role at the club.”

Elsie’s main contribution to sport has been her involvement in netball in Tatura.

She started with Tatura Netball Association at the age of five, and currently plays with Tatura Football Netball Club in the Goulburn Valley League.

She has been a multiple squad representative in netball, including the Shepparton Netball Association, Netball Victoria Talent Academy, association and state champions, Goulburn Valley interleague level and the Victorian Netball League. She also umpires and coaches netball, and manages Tatura Football Netball Club’s social media account and its online platform for uniforms.

Elsie has also been a member of Tatura Lawn Tennis Club, and a representative with squad basketball and state athletics.