Rising NQ sports stars to be celebrated at awards event
Published: 21 Sep 2023
The Mackay region is getting ready to celebrate the rising sports stars of North Queensland.
Nominations closed on September 1 for local sporting stars to be nominated for the MM Electrical NQ Sportstar Awards and the list of nominees has been revealed today at a media launch at Mackay ARC.
Mackay Regional Council councillor, Laurence Bonaventura, who is also North Queensland Sports Foundation director, attended the launch and said this year was the 40th anniversary since the foundation was established and the 32nd annual awards ceremony.
“The MM Electrical North Queensland Sportstar Awards are the longest running dedicated sporting awards in Queensland and council is proud to be hosting this special celebration of the foundation at the awards this year,” Cr Bonaventura said.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our local sporting heroes to be recognised in their hometown at the awards and we’re excited with the sporting talent who have been nominated to represent the sugar city,” he said.
North Queensland Sports Foundation CEO Stephen Farrell said he was thrilled to be in Mackay for the media launch and looked forward to the main event.
“The inaugural NQ Sportstar Awards took place in 1990 and recognises the remarkable accomplishments of our regional athletes from across Northern and Northwestern Queensland,” Mr Farrell said.
“Many of Australia’s best athletes originated from regional Queensland and the NQ Sportstar Awards showcases their hard work and determination on their path to reach the elite level,” he said.
“The Awards also acknowledges the valuable efforts of the individuals behind the scenes who make these achievements possible through volunteering.
“The NQ Hall of Fame inductee for 2023 will also be announced on the night of the event and added to the list that includes Cathy Freeman, Pat Rafter and Lawrie Lawrence.”
This year, the awards will be held on Saturday, November 4, at the MECC. The special guest keynote speaker is Olympic champion swimmer Brooke Hansen OAM.
Tickets to the annual awards event are on sale now at themecc.com.au.
List of Mackay region nominees for the MM Electrical NQ Sportstar Awards:
> NQ Sportstar of the Year (Award sponsor - Consolidated Engineering Plastics Products)
- Jade Bounden
- Janee Emms
- TJ Straw
> NQ Junior Sportstar of the Year (Award sponsor - Anything Environmental)
- James Allen
- Monique Bobongie
- Jacob Cockayne
- Kaiden Neilsen
- Shaylah Pershouse
- Toby Rule
- Dylan Secher
> NQ Masters Sportstar of the Year (Award sponsor – City Fitness)
- Therese Clancy
- Justin Rule
- Hamish Wright
> NQ Sportstar Junior Sport Team of the Year (Award sponsor – Struddys)
- Brothers Bulldogs Mackay
> NQ Sportstar Senior Sport Team of the Year
- Mackay Fire, Women's Social Basketball
- Mackay Rowing Club - Sculling mix quad double
> NQ Sportstar Athlete with Disability (Award sponsor – DGH Engineering)
- Izabella Wills
> NQ Service to Sport (Award sponsor - Struddys)
- Susan Davies
- James Grech
- Joel Khalu
- Peter and June Thiele
> NQ Sport Volunteer of the Year
- Jack Baldwin
- Darryl Barker
- Kimberley Doyle
- Phil Dreghorn
- Anthony Porter
- Michelle Tickle
- Joyce Wallace
> NQ Sporting Excellence (Award sponsor – JMS Aquatics) - More details TBA on the night of the event
(Left to right) - Cr Justin Englert, Cr Laurence Bonaventura, Cr Fran Mann, Ben Ross, Cr Belinda Hassan, NQSF CEO Stephen Farrell, Cr Pauline Townsend, James Galea, Toby Rule and Cr Alison Jones at the MM Electrical NQ Sportstar Awards media launch.