Nominations open for Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly Sports Star of the Year awards

The Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly, while acknowledging that there has been little chance to play sport this year, is determined to continue a 35-year tradition of honouring the region's finest.

"Despite the lack of sport this year, there still has been some opportunities early in the year around January to March, and hopefully those opportunities will present themselves again in November and December," WRSA executive officer David Berry said.

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Clubs and associations are being encouraged to nominate individuals for the overall sports star award, and also nominate outstanding volunteers and hard-working achievers for special category awards.

"Something special we are introducing for this year's awards is the Valued Volunteer of the Year award. This award recognised those long serving volunteers in our organisations, that have done a tremendous job over many, many years," Berry said.

"Over the past seven months there has been some terrific work done by volunteers in the Covid-19 environment, that we're keen to recognise."

Horsham endurance athlete Kelly Miller won the 2020 Sports Star of the Year award, after an incredible year that saw he run a personal best at an Australian Ironman even in Port Macquarie, and finish sixth for her age group at the Ironman World Championships.

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Miller joined esteem company, with Paralympian Jannick Blair, AFL player Darcy Tucker, and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alethea Sedgman all previous winners of the award.

The awards night is normally held in November, with the WRSA closely monitoring the COVID situation to see if in-person attendance is possible.

"We'll keep our eyes on Covid restrictions in the hope we can deliver a Sports Star night, but either way, there will be the opportunity to recognise our region's best, even if it has to be virtual," Berry said.

Nominations are now being taken via the assembly's website and close on December 31. Go to www.wrsa.org.au for details.

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