South Australia's Year of Sport celebrated at Awards event

South Australia’s year of sport has been celebrated with stars and champions, and the administrators, educators and teams behind them, at the 2017 South Australian Sport Awards.

Presented on the evening of Friday 24th November at the Adelaide Oval, the eighth South Australian Sport Awards showcased all of sport with The South Australian Sport Hall of Fame, The Advertiser/Channel Seven Sports Star of the Year Awards and the Sport SA Awards.

Attended by almost 500 guests, the gala event,  hosted by Mark Soderstrom and Jessica Adamson from Channel Seven, saw the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame honour roll expanded to 62 inductees with Clarrie Grimmett (cricket), Brett Aitken OAM (cycling), Natalie Von Bertouch (netball), Katrina Webb OAM (Paralympic athletics), Chris Dittmar (squash) and Phil Rogers (swimming) joining this illustrious group.

A highlight was a tribute to SA Sport Hall of Fame Legend, Gillian Rolton OAM, who recently passed away.

Presented Bruce McAvaney OAM narrated a moving story of the equestrian star’s life, after which the silent, emotional audience viewed the images of her sporting wins and extraordinary courage in adversity.

In addition to current day sporting stars, the team behind South Australia’s athletes was recognised with the Gallagher Administrator of the Year - Clare Harris (Surf Lifesaving SA); Coach of the Year - Bec Goddard (AFL); Sunday Mail City Bay Fun Run Inc. Volunteer Award - Graeme Gilbert (netball); Club One Official of the Year - Simon Fry (cricket ); Statewide Super Country Athlete of the Year - Simon Hockey (croquet);  Terry Howe Printing Major Event of the Year - ISPA Handa Women's Australian Golf Open and the Terry Howe Printing Community Event of the Year - Sellicks Beach Historic Motorcycle Races.

The Margaret Ralston ‘Golden Door’ AM Award was presented for the third time to the late Wendy Ey BEM who opened doors for women in sport with her extraordinary achievements, as an athlete, coach, sports administrator, teacher, academic, feminist and author.

Commenting on the Awards, Sport SA Chief Executive Jan Sutherland stated “we are delighted to celebrate sport’s achievements and the people who underpin these, from on the fields, courts and pool, in the offices, training venues and schools with you.

“These stories of sport inspire and motivate. Thank you to our partners, members and friends for your support and ensuring that the sport is prominent in the South Australian community.”

Sport SA Awards 
Volunteer of the Year Award - Sunday Mail City Bay Fun Run Inc. 
Graeme Gilbert Netball (Winner) 
Finalists
Adam Butler - football 
Christine Halbert - Australian Rules Football 

Official of the Year - Club One 
Simon Fry Cricket (Winner) 
Finalists
Rachel Fisk - athletics  
Eleni Glouftsis - Australian Rules Football 

Administrator of the Year - Gallagher 
Clare Harris Surf Life Saving (Winner) 
Finalists 
Steven Baldas - tennis 
Paul Vandenbergh - Australian Rules Football 

Richard Newman Primary School Sports Award - Department for Education & Child Development 
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz Tennis Glenelg Primary School (Winner) 
Finalists 
Angus Hincksman - Tatachilla Lutheran College, multi sport
Ben Hinks - Craigburn Primary School, sailing

Secondary School Sports Award - Messenger Community News Limited 
Alexandra Chidiac - Open Access College, football (Winner) 
Finalists 
Matthew Carter - Pembroke School, diving
Izak Rankine - Henley High School, football/basketball

Country Athlete of the Year - Statewide Super 
Simon Hockey Croquet (Winner) 
Finalists  
Connor Hogan - motorcycling  
Isabella Stratford - basketball . 

Community Event of the Year - Terry Howe Printing 
Sellicks Beach Historic Motorcycle Races (Winner) 
Finalists 
SA Country Basketball Championships  
Teakle Auto Sprint, Port Lincoln - motorsport 

Major Event of the Year -Terry Howe Printing 
ISPS Handa Women's Australian Golf Open (Winner) 
Finalist 
Adelaide 500, Motorsport 

Coach of the Year 
Bec Goddard Australian Rules Football (Winner) 
Finalists 
Adam Didyk - athletics 
Tracy York - basketball 

Marg Ralston Golden Door Award 
Wendy Ey BEM (dec) 

2017 South Australian Sport Hall of Fame Inductees 
• Cricket - Clarrie Grimmett 
• Cycling - Brett Aitken OAM 
• Netball - Natalie von Bertouch 
• Paralympic Athletics - Katrina Webb OAM 
• Squash - Chris Dittmar 
• Swimming - Phil Rogers OAM 

Advertiser/Seven Sports Star of the Year
• Tany Denyer Awards - Sam Willoughby (BMX) 
• Junior Sports Star of the Year - Alexandra Haydon (Squash) 
• Team of the Year - Adelaide Crows AFLW 
• Elite Athlete of the Year with a Disability - Brayden Davidson (Long jump) 

Sports Star of the Year - sponsored by Sports Centre 
Jess Trengove (Athletics) (Winner) 
Scott Thulborn (Bowls) (People’s Choice Winner) 
Finalists 
• Erin Phillips (AFL Women’s football) 
• Jamie Kah (Horse racing) 
• Alex Carey (Cricket) 
• Kurtis Marschall (Pole vault) 
• Jason Norris (Golf) 
• Stephanie Morton OAM (Cycling) 
• Alex Hill (Rowing)

Image: Carrie Webb at the 2016 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Golf Open

3rd November 2017 - RECREATION SA TO UNDERTAKE AUDIT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AQUATIC FACILITIES

27th October 2017 - SPORT SA HIGHLIGHTS PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES LEADING INTO 2018 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ELECTION 

18th October 2017 - SPORT SA AWARDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SQUAD BEHIND THE STARS

7th August 2017 - $7.7 MILLION COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE ADELAIDE’S NETBALL FACILITIES

23rd June 2017 - COMMUNITY AND ELITE SPORT GETS BACKING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUDGET 

23rd March 2017 - SPORT SA CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ $10 MILLION INJECTION INTO SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPORT

9th December 2016 - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PLAN TO GET MORE WOMEN INVOLVED IN SPORT

2nd October 2016 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA OPENS SPORT FUNDING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE CHANGE ROOMS 

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