Sports Darling Downs crowns the region’s best Junior and Senior Athlete PLUS Photo GALLERY
The 24th Sports Darling Downs Dinner had the region’s best athletes on show. With a purse of $21,000 in sponsorship donations, see who won, what they had to say and all the photos from the night BELOW.
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SPORTS: The region’s sporting night-of-nights dished up some phenomenal sporting achievements from 2022.
From athletes to coaches, umpires to volunteers, schools to generous sponsors, the 24th annual Sports Darling Downs dinner was a true celebration and recognition of sports in the Downs.
Back live for the first time in three years due to Covid, the night’s theme was ‘Inspired’.
The non-for-profit organisation, through the help of their sponsors, were able to hand out a total of $21,000 to the award recipients across the 16 different awards.
Mick Smith, the president of the organisation, was inducted as the fourth Life Member of Sports Darling Downs.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Smith was brought to tears.
“I didn’t see this coming. Because I didn’t organise it,” Smith said.
“I appreciate you all very much, and I’m very grateful.
“Some of you might think that 24 years at the helm is enough, but I’m not done yet, I’ve got more to give.”
The night was a true celebration and a testament to the athletic prowess of the Darling Downs.
Awards:
Outstanding Achievement Bursaries – $1000 (Brielle Erbacher, Shenae Ciesiolka, Aliesha Neumann)
The following are all $500: Team of the Year, Coach of the Year (Pat O’Shea Memorial Trophy), Umpire/Referee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Junior Para Athlete of the Year, Senior Para Athlete of the Year (Nev Reedy Memorial Trophy), Primary School of the Year, Secondary School of the Year, Junior Chase Your Dream Award, Junior Rising Star Award, Senior Rising Star Award.
Junior Sports Star of the Year Runner-Up – $1000
Senior Sports Star of the Year Runner-Up – $1200
Junior Sports Star of the Year – $2000
Senior Sports Star of the Year – $4000
Team of the Year
Allora Swim Team (Swimming) – Was not present.
Coach of the Year
Jackie Gallagher (Athletics) – “Thank you for those who nominated for me, I’m grateful for being recognised,” Gallagher said.
Umpire/Referee of the Year
Aleshia Neumann (Hockey). Was not present as she was in Sydney officiating a game between Germany and China.
Volunteer of the Year
Tony Coonan (League) – “I’d like to thank Paul Reidy for his ongoing support … there is no reason why what has happened with the Clydesdales (readmission into Q-Cup) can’t happen with all other sports across the Darling Downs” Coonan said.
Junior Para Athlete of the Year
Taylah Chapman (Athletics) – “Thank you to my parents, coaches, school friends and sponsor. And thank you to everyone for the cheer, I don’t get these at school so thank you very much,” Chapman said.
Senior Para Athlete of the Year
Hayden Siebuhr (Wheelchair Basketball) – “Thank you everybody, this helps me get down to Brisbane for training and thanks to Table 14 for coming here and supporting me. I’m coming off rehab at the moment from spinal surgery, so I’m looking forward to getting back in the squad and playing again,” he said.
Primary School of the Year
The Glennine School – (Shayne Hayes, Head of Sport) – “A big thank you to everybody, we are very proud and passionate educators and are thankful for the opportunities we can provide these girls,” Hayes said.
Secondary School of the Year
Downlands College – (Stephen Koch, Principal) – “Thank you to the parent and student body, the strength and conditioning and others. We need to continue to promote sports in the region in preparation for the upcoming Olympics (Brisbane 2032) … I’m proud that at Downlands we can provide opportunities to those that may not have the same chances,” Koch said.
Junior Chase Your Dream Award
Lucy Dyson (Athletics) – “Thank you to my coach, parents Jackie Gallaher and the sponsors,” she said.
Junior Rising Star Award
Chloe Denning (Triathlon) – “Thank you to Sports Darling Downs, my parents, the sponsors of the night for your ongoing support,” Denning said.
Senior Chase Your Dream Award
Tatum Stewart (Hockey) – “Thank you everybody. Lots of people here have been supporting me throughout my journey for a very long time … I’m very grateful for you all. And in the theme of inspired, you’ve all inspired me to better myself and keep going,” Stewart said.
Stewart, who was just recently selected in the Hockeyroos squad, gave an update on her injured foot and expressed her gratitude towards Mick and the Sports Darling Downs organisation.
“I’m feeling a lot better, and it’s definitely progressing really quickly. I should be out playing at the end of the month,” she said.
“Fortunately I didn’t need surgery as it wasn’t a major ligament, fascia or one of my tendons; so I just have to rehab it.
“It’s always meaningful getting an award, and with the amount of things I’m going to have on this year it will be a good support financially.
“With the FIH Pro League throughout the year and the Brisbane Blaze, I’ll be going around the country and to New Zealand and Europe, so this is very helpful.”
Senior Rising Star Award
Emma Stevens (Track Cycling) – “Thanks everybody for being here. My coaches and supporters and QAS for helping me get to Israel (Junior Track World Championships),” she said.
Junior Sports Star of the Year Runner-Up
Geordie Cowdroy (Athletics) – “I’d like to thank Table 25, David Hacker and Vanesa Gordon and my parents, and all my sponsors, thank you very much,” Cowdroy said.
Senior Sports Star of the Year Runner-Up
Jai Gordon (Athletics) – was absent as he was competing in Adelaide, coming second in the World Championship Qualifiers. Jackie Gallagher, Gordon’s coach, spoke on his behalf.
“First, Jai would like to thank his sponsors and his family, squad and of course he’d like to thank his coach. It was Jai’s first comp tonight since the world champs, he was up against the big boys and today he ticked all the boxes and raced very well, I’m super proud of him,” Gallagher said.
“I’ve been apart of this event since I was young, it’s an incredible giving event, with the same sponsors always coming back, hopefully I can do the same thing one day too.”
Junior Sports Star of the Year
Sienna Deurloo (Swimming) – “I’d like to thank all those that are here at the event, sponsors, Jason Cooper, my family and everybody that has supported me,” Deurloo said.
This is the first time Deurloo has won the award, and she was both shocked and grateful for the recognition.
“It was definitely a shock. I do think that I deserved it, but I feel like everybody who was on that list also deserved it … they all deserve to be here,” she said.
The 17 year-old and St Joesph’s College senior recently competed in the 2023 Australian Open Water Championships, where she won the gold medal in the girls 18 years 10km event.
“I’ve been selected to go on a camp for the Australian junior squad on the Sunshine Coast in March where I’ll work on my open water and other stuff,” she said.
“After that, I’ll go back to age nationals and compete there in April.”
Senior Sports Star of the Year
Brielle Erbacher (Athletics) – Erbacher was also competing at the world champ qualifiers in Adelaide , where she placed second in her race. She sent in a prerecorded message thanking everybody for their support.
“Thank you so much for this award, I definitely did not see this coming,” she said.
“I’d like to say a massive thanks to Sports Darling Downs and all those who work behind the scenes. What you guys do for the community and region is unreal, and I really, really appreciate it, and I’m sure everybody else in the room does as well.
“The generosity of all the sponsors is unreal and especially to Vanessa and Neil Mansell, what you guys have done for me other the past few years has been unreal and undoubtably helped me achieve the goals I have and got me to where I am today.
“This will definitely help me pay for some of the flights and associated coasts for races I’ve got coming up, so thank you.”
Congratulations to all the winners and all those that were in attendance. We look forward to seeing what achievements our athletes and stars will accomplish in 2023.
Photo GALLERY from the Night Below
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