Recognising the squad behind South Australia’s sporting stars

The dedicated coaches, volunteers, administrators and officials who feature at the core of sport are set to be acknowledged at the KPMG South Australian Sport Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 17th November at the Adelaide Oval.

In advance of South Australian sport’s biggest night of the year, this year’s student achievers in sport and the finalists in the 2016 Sport SA Awards were announced at the Sports Centre / Sport SA Partners and Members Breakfast held at the Rydges Hotel last Friday.

Sport SA Chief Exectuive Jan Sutherland commented “the Sport SA Awards program is a great recognition of the team behind sport in SA.

“The significant contributions made by our workforce both paid and unpaid to sport and the community are not always recognised and their achievements have been profiled.”

“The community is built and connected through sport and everyone can enjoy achieving success as they play, coach, officiate, organise events and complete many other tasks.”

Announcing three finalists in each award category, Sutherland added “the quality and number of nominations from our 160 members in many sporting organisations provides evidence of the outstanding commitment to sport.

“Their recognition and support is key to the advocacy role of Sport SA. The Selection Committee has once again completed the challenging task in reviewing the submissions to select the finalists.”

Award recipients will be presented at The KPMG South Australian Sport Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 17th November at the Adelaide Oval when Sport SA joins with The Advertiser and Channel Seven to present the KPMG South Australian Sport Hall of Fame; The Advertiser Channel Seven Sports Star of the Year and the Sport SA Awards.

Sutherland concluded “please join us at the 2016 KPMG South Australian Sport Awards on November 17th to celebrate with the champions, leaders and friends of sport showcasing the sporting success of today and the past to inspire all.”

For further information and bookings go to www.sportsa.org.au

Finalists for the 2016 Sport SA Awards:

Volunteer Award – Sponsored by the Sunday Mail City Bay Fun Run Inc.
Neil Brown, golf; Brett Fisk, athletics and John Holland, dragonboats 

Official of the Year – Sponsored by Club One 
Glenn Errington, Table Tennis; Diane Milner, bowls and Linda Probert, netball 

Administrator of the Year – Sponsored by Arthur J. Gallagher 
Shane Bernhardt, cricket, Adam Bishop, athletics and Michael Carter, football

Richard Newman Primary School Sports Award – Sponsored by the Department for Education & Child Development 
Robert Brennan, Mitcham PS, baseball; Ben Hinks Craigburn PS, sailing and Madison Schwarz, West Lakes Shore PS, athletics, cross country and tennis 

Secondary School Sports Award – Sponsored by Messenger Community News Limited 
Emma Adams, Reynella East College, air rifle shooting; Liam Bekric, Underdale HS, multi-class swimming and Emily Condon, Saint Mark's College Bosco, Port Pirie, football 

Country Athlete of the Year 
Leigh Hoffman, cycling; Aidan Stock, hockey and Dimity Payne, surfing 

Coach of the Year 
Peter Bishop, swimming; Andrea McCauley, cricket and Lucas Norman, squash 

Community Event of the Year – Sponsored by BeSigned 
Dragons Down Under Adelaide 2016 and 2016 Murray Bridge SA Masters Games 

Significant Event of the Year - Sponsored by BeSigned 
Australian International 3 Day Event and Hancock Prospecting Swimming Australia Olympic Trials 

1st August 2016 - SPORT SA INVITES NOMINATIONS FOR 2016 AWARDS

9th March 2016 - RACE TO RIO SET TO EXCITE AT THE SA AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE IN APRIL

28th November 2015 - RACING LEGEND BART CUMMINGS REMEMBERED AT CELEBRATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPORT

2nd October 2015 - SPORTING CHAMPIONS INDUCTED INTO THE KPMG SOUTH AUSTRALIA SPORT HALL OF FAME