Sport
21 February, 2024
Kate-Lyn Perkin claims Wimmera Sports Star of the Year
Kate-Lyn Perkin was named the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly’s Sports Star of the Year last Friday night at Coughlin Park.
Perkin was nominated for her achievements in tennis which included winning the singles and mixed doubles championship at the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance World Championships in Spain.
Perkin won the B grade Glam Slam Final at the 2023 Australian Open to qualify for the worlds. Partnered with fellow Aussie Rowen D'Souza, the pair lost the first set 0-6 and then rallied to win the gold 6-4, 10-4.
Perkin said it was a big surprise to win.
"It's definitely a big surprise to get this award and I am very humbled by it," Perkin said.
"With all the other nominees in the category as well, I thought one of them would have taken it.
"This award is very unexpected and I think it is probably the biggest thing I have achieved in my career."
The other nominees were Jorja Clode (Netball), Logan Young (Ten Pin Bowling), Jed Hermans (Scooter), Remo Luciani (Go Karts) and Hailey Puls (Gymnastics).
101-year-old Ian McRae won the 'Veteran of the Year'. McRae bowls for Dimboola and still plays every now and then. He has been a member of the club for 60 years and isn't planning on stopping anytime soon.
Ian O'Donnell was crowned the 'Volunteer of the Year' for his work at the Swifts Football Netball Club, a club where he has been a member of for over 60 years which included playing in 300 games.
Indya Baulch won the 'Local Athlete of the Year.' At the Tristate game, Indya won Gold in the walk across the pool, Silver in basketball throw and 25m walk and Bronze in Discus. She was also crowned Best and Fairest after the Whippets netball season.
Josh Barry was named the 'National Athlete of the Year'. He won the Gold medal at the Bowls Australia Inaugural National Development Series in para singles and overall team event. He also claimed silver in the para pairs.
The 'Team of the Year' went to Volleyball Horsham Women's Division One. They were the Victorian Country Champions, defeating Sunraysia, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Ballarat. They also came runners up in division one at Bendigo tournament and fourth at Horsham.
Cam Pickering won the 'Official of the Year' for his work for the Wimmera Umpires Association. He umpired game number 400 at Anzac Park in Warracknabeal last year.
Chavi Sulic won the 'Junior Sports Star of the Year' with achievements in football which included being a member of Team Victoria that went through the national carnival undefeated, beating WA for the title. Out of 800 footballers, Sulic was one of the 23 selected.
Ash Grace won the 'Coach of the Year' for her work at St Brigid's College and Horsham Saints.
At St Brigid's College she coached intermediate and junior girls to the Netball Victoria State Championships and development of coaching of year 7 and 8 students.
At the Horsham Saints she coach and mentored the under 17s in an undefeated season with two members of the team winning league Best and Fairest and Runners Up and also for junior development coaching of four students to the A Grade team.
It was a great night for Natimuk Gymnastics Club winning three awards on the night.
Firstly they won the 'Club of the Year'. They qualified six gymnasts for the senior state championships for the first time in the club's history.
Hailey Puls, Brooklyn Fraser, Lani and Edward Jones and Remi and Eli Bailey qualified after trials at the state gymnastics centre. Hailey Puls is a level 10 gymnast competing for the first time at that level.
Lynette Morrow won the 'Women in Sport' award for her work at the Natimuk Gymnastics Club.
Jenelle Patterson won the 'Unsung Hero of the Year'. She had dedicated over 12 years at the club and has taken on many roles such as overhauling the uniform and being the driving force in the use of media and web design.
St Brigid's College was named the 'Sporting School of the Year' with numerous achievements over the course of the year highlighted by netball.
They won the regions and went to state for Intermediate and Junior Championships placing fifth in both comps and the boys qualified for state finals in the State School Victoria boys junior netball. The intermdiate girls netball also won the Black Ranges.
Their other achievements were Intermediate Girls Basketball winning Black Ranges, Year 7 mixed cricket winning Black Ranges, one student qualifing for Cross Country State titles, 22 students representing the school at Greater Western Athletics with three going onto state finals and the year 7 volleyball team qualifying for state finals.
Joel Freijah won the 'Grassroots Award for a former Wimmera athlete' and Ben Lakin, Will Robertson, Joel, Jarrod and Tom Berry won the 'Spirit of Community Award' for their 'Marathon for Mum' event which raised over $90,000 for breast cancer.