Sportstar
2025
We gratefully acknowledge the support of
Sportstar of the Year previous winners
1987 & 88
SENIOR
Lee Ives (Sabre Sailing)
1989 Brett Sands (Waterskiing)
1990 Brett Sands (Waterskiing)
1991 David Dew (Cycling)
1992 Steve Atkins (Shooting)
JUNIOR
Peter Cannard (Kayaking)
Scott Dominguez (Waterskiing)
Travis Rankin (Cricket/Football)
Alwyn Holt (Judo)
Alwyn Holt (Judo)
1993 Cameron McMullan (Canoeing) Samantha Fraser (Rhym Gym)
1994 Joanne Hamilton (Waterskiing)
1995 Steve Atkins (Shooting)
1996 Brett Sands (Waterskiing)
1997 Cameron McMullan (Canoeing)
1998 Joanne Kerr (Shooting)
1999 Chris Young (Lawn Bowls)
2000 Jenni Murphy (Basketball)
2001 Matt Jones (Volleyball)
2002 Steve Calleja (Shooting)
2003 Michael Teggelove (Cycling)
2004 Claire Duke (Lawn Bowls)
2005 Kelly Norris (Shooting)
2006 Claire Duke (Lawn Bowls)
2007 Jimmy Wilson (Body Building)
2008 Tony Bond (Canoeing)
2009 Geoff Nesbitt (Table Tennis)
Justin Waldron (Shooting)
Kate Glenn (Waterskiing)
Matt Jones (Volleyball)
Sarah Hardiman (Athletics)
Matt Jones (Volleyball)
Steve Calleja (Shooting)
Steve Calleja (Shooting)
Heidi Riordan (Athletics)
Emma Bennett (Golf)
Andrew Walker (Football)
Luke Hubbard (Tumbling)
Luke Hubbard (Tumbling)
Darcy Arnel (Waterskiing)
Jemima Draper (Equestrian)
Darcy Arnel (Waterskiing)
Jordan Williams (Football)
Jack Wilson (Golf)
James Oberin (Hurdling)
2010 Kelly Norris (Shooting) Reece Sidebottom (Go-Karting)
2011 Guy Campbell (Football)
2012 Oliver Wines (Football)
2013 Jane Chalmers (Basketball)
2014 Brady Threlfall (Distance Runner)
2015 Aidyn Johnson (Football)
Clayton Oliver (Football)
2016 Jayden Gulson (Hockey)
2017 Simon Buckley (Football)
2018 Marty Hore (Football)
2019 Todd Murphy (Cricket)
Brodie Kemp (Football)
2020–21 Col Pearse (Swimming)
2022 Kiara Dean (Shooting)
2023 Cassandra Millerick (Bowls)
Harley Reid (Football)
2024 Kiara Dean (Clay Target Shooting)
Lloyd Woolman (Water Skiing)
Tom Leech (Soccer)
Jessica Pitts (Soccer)
Jayden Gulson (Hockey)
Emma Barnes (Water Skiing)
Col Pearse (Swimming)
Todd Murphy (Cricket)
Kiara Dean (Shooting)
Col Pearse (Swimming)
Fletcher Ball (Barefoot Skiing)
Fletcher Ball (Barefoot Skiing)
Levi Hone (Cycling)
James Barrat (Football)
The Echuca-Moama Sportstar of the Year Awards reflect the exemplary sporting achievements within our community.
Throughout its 38-year history, monthly Sportstar awards have been given to junior and senior athletes as they strive towards the annual night of nights.
Supported by the Riverine Herald, Moama Bowling Club and Echuca Travel Centre, the awards celebrate the regional love of sport.
We are delighted to welcome back our traditional presentation evening for the awards this year, to be held Thursday, February 19.
At the gala awards evening we will announce the overall 2025 junior
and senior Sportstars, Spirit of Sport (volunteer), Coach, & Team/Club of the Year winners as well as our monthly junior and senior winners presented with medallions.
We hope you enjoy reading about each of our nominees. The range of sports is incredible yet again. From water skiing to tennis, BMX racing to lawn bowls, golf to motorbike speedway and athletics to team based sports such as football, cricket and netball..
Echuca Moama Sportstar Co‑ordinator
Spirit of Sport, Coach and Team/Club of the Year previous winners
2011
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Bernie Mcmanus
Lockington Bamawm United Football Netball Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kahl Oliver
Lockington Bamawm United Football Netball Club
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Lockington Bamawm United Football Netball Club
2012
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Renee Davison
Echuca Moama Hockey Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Daryl Brown Moama Echuca Border Raiders
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Moama Echuca Border Raiders — Senior Women’s Team
2013
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Matthew Wickham
Wickham Martial Arts
COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Beattie
Echuca United Football Netball Club
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Lockington Bamawm United Football Club
2014
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Nikki Cohen
Echuca Moama Little Athletics Club & Echuca Masters Football Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Michael Gulson
Echuca Moama Hockey Club
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Echuca & District Netball Association 17s
2015
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Steve Gray
Echuca Tri Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Grant Matthews
Echuca United Football Netball Club
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Echuca United Football Netball Club — Netball
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Ian Sinnett
Echuca Lawn Tennis Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark McGann
Echuca Moama Rockets
TEAM OF THE YEAR
The Mistress Ski Race Team
2017
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Laurie Edmondstone
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mick McInnes
Echuca Football Netball Team — Women’s Team
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Moama Football Netball Club — A-Grade Netball
2018
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Dave Colbourne
COACH OF THE YEAR
Gina Pearson
Echuce Football Netball Club — Netball
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Echuca Gun Club
2019
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Kate Carlile
Echuca Football Netball Club & Echuca Cricket Club
COACH OF THE YEAR
Leo Tenace
Echuca Football Netball Club & Echuca Basketball Association
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR
Echuca Basketball Association
2022
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Alf Parsons — Show jumping
Kirk Teasdale — Cricket
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrew Walker & Simon Maddox
Echuca Football Netball Club
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR
Echuca Football Netball Club
2023
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Vince Jessen — EFNC Volunteer
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrew Walker, Simon Maddox & Sam Reid
Echuca Football Netball Club
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR
Echuca Football Netball Club
2024
SPIRIT OF SPORT
Lisa Baker — Echuca Basketball
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ash Watson — Rochester
Football Netball Club
TEAM/CLUB OF THE YEAR
Echuca Football Netball Club
Sportstar
JANUARY
NATE SMITH — SPEEDWAY MOTORCYCLE
After qualifying for the under-16 250cc world titles, Nate Smith took on the best young speedway riders from around the globe in Slovenia and Czechia in May.
The Echuca rider made it through his semifinal round, the last qualifier for the final, before finishing the championships 14th in the world.
Earlier in the year, Smith, who was only a little more than a year into his speedway career, was selected for the prestigious Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme Speedway Grand Prix Academy.
The first FIM SGP academy of 2025 was held in Adelaide with 23 of the best young riders from Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain taking part.
Straight after the academy, the Oceania world championships were held on January 25, Smith finishing second in the under-16 250cc solo support class, level on points with the eventual winner.
His performances earned him a spot at the
world championships after ranking third in the country for his age class.
Smith has since started the new 2025-26 season in good form, finishing second in the Victorian and South Australian titles and third in the Australian titles, once again earning world championship qualification.
ASTON RODRIGUEZ — COMPACT SPEEDCAR
Kyabram 16-year-old Aston Rodriguez has made a huge impact in compact speedcar in his first full season in open competition.
Rodriguez won the Victoria and NSW titles and came into the national titles final second on the grid after winning two of his three heats.
Although he blew a tyre and fell out of contention in that race, Rodriguez is currently the number two ranked compact speedcar driver in the country in the open age category.
Rodriguez would follow his wins in Victoria and NSW with state-territory crowns in Queensland and the ACT, holding four state level titles simultaneously.
CODY WALKER — FOOTBALL
Having been made captain of the All-Australian team in the under-16 National Championships last year, it was no surprise to see Echuca’s Cody Walker join the under-18 set-up in 2025, even as a bottom-age prospect.
The National Championships are one of the key annual showcases for AFL draft prospects and of the 27 players named in the Vic Country squad, only three were bottom-age players. Walker committed his future to Carlton, set to enter the draft in 2026 as a father-son prospect, and the Echuca phenom showed the Blues what they’ll be buying in to with a starring performance in the futures fixture at the MCG.
The game annually previews the best upcoming draftees for the following year and Walker stood out among his class as part of Team Docherty.
Although his side would lose the game, Walker claimed the best-on medal after logging 25 disposals, seven clearances and six inside 50s.
ELISE NAPIER — BASKETBALL
After making an impact at the under-16 national championships in 2024, Echuca basketballer Elsie Napier repeated the feat at under-18 level in 2025.
Napier’s Victoria Country side made it to the last four of the championships, but was felled by NSW in the bronze medal match.
Napier averaged a little more than 10 minutes off the bench logging 2.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest.
Injury waylaid the second half of Napier’s year, preventing her from adding further to her list of accolades.
She had previously been playing with Wangaratta in the Victorian Junior Basketball League 3, scoring 153 points in the 2024 season.
GRACIE RETALLICK — BOWLS
After winning the pairs last year Gracie Retallick got the job done in the singles this year at the Bowls Victoria under-18 state championships.
Retallick prevailed over Deer Park’s Addy Ryan, 21-17, in the final after an impressive group stage earned her a first-round bye.
The Moama bowler paired up with title partner from the previous year, Mackenzie Parsons, in the pairs where they were runnersup.
Retallick also featured in Victoria’s under-18 tri-series win over NSW and Queensland in August.
She also claimed bronze in the top junior Diamond Jack event on home greens in October.
HANNAH DOWNWARD — HIGH JUMP
Hannah Downward is one of the rising young athletes in the country, coming home from the under-20 national championships with a medal. She earned silver in the under-16 girls high jump at the championships, held in Perth at the start of April.
Downward cleared 1.65m on her first attempt, setting a new personal best.
The clearances would prove valuable after only one athlete made it over the 1.68m mark, her first time clearance the tiebreaker that settled positions 2-4.
Downward also scored second at the Victorian All School Track and Field Championships, before finishing fourth nationally, as well as another second at the Little Athletics Victoria state championships.
ALIERA PUMPA — GYMNASTICS
Aliera Pumpa, 16, competed in the 2025 Australian Gymnastics Championships on the Gold Coast, held from July 3-17.
Representing Palmer’s Gym in Moama and Bendigo, Pumpa competed in level 6 tumbling, a discipline built on performing passes of eight skills, on a 25m sprung and padded track.
After qualifying for the final 12, Pumpa logged a final position of eighth in the country among a field of 37.
Earlier in the year, Pumpa finished second at the Victorian Championships, while in September she logged a fourth-placed finish at the Australian National Clubs carnival.
GEORGE GRIFFITHS — CYCLING
George Griffiths took out the under-17 Victorian Junior Time Trial State Championship.
Griffiths finished in a time of 18:26.5, beating second place by a staggering 12.4 seconds at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday, August 10.
At the national level, Griffiths sped his way to 10th in the under-17 time trial.
The results, coupled with other strong performances, granted Griffiths selection for the AusCycling U17 Road Development Academy Team for the Yunca Junior Tour in New Zealand.
Across the ditch, he finished eighth in the general classification at the tour.
TAHLIA BLIGHT — ATHLETICS
Tahlia Blight is racing up the state rankings after claiming gold in the under-16 400m at the Victorian All Schools Track and Field Championships.
Blight set a blistering time in qualifying, winning her heat by more than two seconds and posting the fastest time in the event on the day, including the under-17 and 18 classes. Heading straight to the final, Blight took the title in a time of 58:51.
She also placed fourth in the 100m event.
At the Schools Sports Australia Championships, Blight finished sixth in the 400m, eighth in the 800m and picked up a bronze medal in the mixed relay.
ADDISON COBURN — GYMNASTICS
Addison Coburn has been rising up the tumbling ranks as a 10-year-old, scoring a seventh-placed finish as a bottom-age athlete in level five tumbling at the Australian Gymnastics Championships.
At state level, she scored second place at the Victorian Championships.
Later in the year, Coburn took the step up from the national to international discipline, competing under international standard conditions.
She took on her new category in the under-13 international competition at the National Clubs Championships in September and finished sixth overall as the youngest competitor in the division.
Coburn qualified for the 2026 state team, as well as winning several regional and club titles and scoring an eighth-placed finish in Sports Aerobics at the state titles.
PAISLEE WALKER — ATHLETICS
Nine-year-old Kyabramite Paislee Walker has run her way to the School Sports Australia Cross Country Championships on the Gold Coast.
After a strong result at Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School’s cross-country, winning the Loddon Mallee Region Championship and coming fourth at state level, Walker earned selection for the 10 years girls Cross Country Multiclass team.
Walker’s journey hasn’t been easy, born with an intellectual disability and autism, she couldn’t use her legs for the first two years of her life.
She ran sixth in her age group for Australia, also scoring a silver medal for time trails for Victoria and also a bronze in the relay for Victoria.
Walker has taken home a haul of medals everywhere she’s gone regionally, picking up several in events in Finley, Deniliquin and Albury.
CHARLIE BOSWOOD AND JACOB CARTWRIGHT — BOWLS
The Kyabram duo teamed up with Max HeatonHarris and Harry Coleman for a storied gold medal finish at the Australian Under-18 Bowls Championships.
The quartet won five of its six games, topping the group on shots up and games won to claim gold in the fours.
Also at the event, Boswood took silver in the pairs, while Cartwright finished third in the triples.
The duo is a regular of the representative scene at school and state level.
Sportstar
JANUARY
LEVI HONE — CYCLING
At the start of 2024 Levi Hone was coming off a fourth-placed finish in the AusCycling National Road Championships Road Race and, a year later, he repeated the feat.
In 2025, in Perth, the performance may have been even more impressive, with the odds stacked against the Echuca Moama Cycling Club star as he once again logged a fourthplaced finish.
Hone’s preparation was interrupted by a broken collarbone in October, the injury also tearing ligaments in his shoulder and requiring surgery just as he was getting into preparation for the championships.
Adding to that, Hone found himself without a team to support him after BridgeLane, one of the country’s most successful cycling teams, shut its doors at the end of 2024, leaving a host of cyclists, including Hone, without a contract.
Having finished fourth in the under-18 event in 2024 as a top-age participant, this campaign Hone graduated to the under-23 event as a bottom-age rider, competing against cyclists up
to four years his senior.
In early March, Hone was snapped up by recently-formed cycling team Team Brennan as part of its under-23 squad.
Throughout the year Hone added a stage win at the Tour of Bright against some world-class competition to his list of accolades.
JUNE
OSKAR SMARTT — FOOTBALL
Oskar Smartt’s AFL ambitions came to fruition at the mid-season draft when he was taken by Essendon with pick number 17.
He was recruited to an injury-hit Bombers from the club’s VFL side, which he had been playing with since he was overlooked in the 2023 draft.
Smartt spent the entirety of his junior career at Leitchville-Gunbower and was a regular with Bendigo Pioneers leading up to his draft year.
He played four games in 2024, averaging 5.5 disposals and 2 tackles.
Smartt has now signed on with East Fremantle Sharks in the WAFL for 2026.
AUGUST
TYLER PHILLIPS — FOOTBALL
Tyler Phillips claimed a record-equalling third Sam Cheatley Medal as the Heathcote District Football League’s best-and-fairest in 2025.
Phillips polled 24 votes to beat out last year’s winner, Leitchville-Gunbower’s Jobee Warde.
The Lockington-Bamawm United ruckman previously claimed back-to-back medals in 2021 and 2022.
For Phillips, who kicked six goals this year, his feat is even more remarkable given his side didn’t qualify for finals this season, posting a 6-9 record.
APRIL
DIVYA CRANE — TABLE TENNIS
Echuca Table Tennis Association president Divya Crane is a state champion. Crane took out the over-30 women’s competition at the Victorian Open Championships in Gippsland.
In her first match in the over-30 division, Crane, after dropping her first two sets, found momentum in the third set and ultimately rode that wave all the way to a comeback win against Kate Carmichael, 8-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-7, 14-12.
She went from strength to strength over the remainder of the competition, winning the rest of her rubbers 3-1 or better.
The result qualified Crane for the National Championships in July where she donned Team Victoria colours.
Although she was unable to compete in the singles event, Crane helped Victoria win three of its five teams matches, winning seven of her eight singles rubbers.
JUNE
OLIVIA CARTWRIGHT — BOWLS
Although she didn’t come home with a winner’s medal, Olivia Cartwright proved herself one of the country’s best bowlers at the Bowls Australia Open on the Gold Coast.
Cartwright finished as runner-up in the singles event, progressing through the sectional stage and six rounds of knockouts to make the final, where she was defeated 21-11 by Dawn Hayman.
She took impressive scalps during her campaign, including former world champion Tayla Bruce, 21-1, and former Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Kristina van Nierop.
Cartwright was also a runner-up in the fours event at the Open.
She added to her list of accolades later in the year, claiming the Victorian Indoor Championship and reached a career high world ranking of second in November.
SEPTEMBER
D’ARCY WHYTE – GOLF
After completing Year 12 at Echuca Secondary College in 2024, D’Arcy Whyte decided to accept a scholarship to college in the US.
The aspiring professional is part of a 10-man squad at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska (about 180km northwest of Omaha, the state’s capital).
Its NJCAA conference covers Colorado and Wyoming and takes in occasional tournaments in South Dakota and Iowa.
He certainly headed to the US on a playing high, with wins over Murray Downs pro Matt Docking in the Rich River pennant competition and being crowned Rich River Golf Club champion and winning the metropolitan division one pennant final with his Melbourne club Commonwealth.
The Northeast Community College men’s golf team competed in The Battle for the Mississippi against some of the top teams in the nation.
The Hawks claimed victory as a team and freshman Whyte took the individual win in the 36-hole event.
OCTOBER
CASSANDRA MILLERICK — BOWLS
Cassandra Millerick has once again proved her quality at the Bowls Victoria Open, coming home with two winners’ medals for a second straight year.
Millerick successfully defended her women’s pairs title with Selina Goddard, this year also claiming the mixed pairs with fiancé Kevin Anderson at the state level event.
Millerick was also part of the Moama side that claimed back-to-back Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League titles earlier in March.
She became the 90th female to play for the Jackaroos in October, earning her first national cap in a Test tour of Scotland.
On Halloween, Millerick completed a scarily good week of Bowls Premier League action, lifting the trophy with Moama in Brisbane.
DECEMBER
TREVOR BASSETT — CROQUET
Trevor Bassett has once again found a rich vein of form 20 years after taking the sport of croquet by storm.
Bassett competed in the Australian Association Croquet Open Championships from Sunday, November 16 to Sunday, November 23 at Cairnlea in Melbourne.
It was a successful tournament for the veteran, winning the open singles for the first time in more than 20 years and finishing runner-up in the open doubles, alongside firsttime partner Stephen Pearce.
This is the third singles title for Bassett, after claiming the big one in 2000 and 2004 and finishing runner-up in 2005 — it’s a return to the greatness he has waited more than two decades for.
Earlier in November, Bassett travelled to Canberra and won the NSW Australian Bronze Medal and will compete against the other state winners for the Australian Gold and Silver Medals in Perth in April.
NOVEMBER
JOANNE HADLEY — DARTS
Echuca darts player Joanne Hadley has hit the target once again, scoring one of her most impressive wins to date.
In February, Hadley took out the South Australian Classic, the only Australian gold level event.
The gold level win earned Hadley a place at the World Darts Federation Lakeside World Championships in England in November, the final frontier on the WDF calendar.
Although she fell in the opening round to Welshwoman Eve Watson, Hadley remains the WDF’s top ranked female in the country and 10th in the world.
DECEMBER
STEVEN SCHENK — BOXING
Steven Schenk, who trains at Justice Boxing in Echuca Moama, took out the Australian Amateur Boxing League light-heavyweight national title on the Gold Coast.
The hard-hitting fighter won his semi-final bout in the second round after a knockdown in the first before claiming a first-round knockout in the final.
Schenk earned praise from the father and trainer of reigning IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia after his win.
He is trained by veteran trainers Kris Burns and Barry Quinlan.
COREY CARVER AND KAINE HERBERT — KYABRAM SENIORS
Kyabram rose back to the top of the Goulburn Valley League this year under the leadership of co-coaches Corey Carver and Kaine Herbert.
After a 10-8 season in 2024 and a first-round finals departure, the Bombers recruited well in the off-season, bringing in a host of quality reinforcements, especially from Moama and Tongala.
Kyabram’s intentions were clear from early on in the season, the Bombers running up big
scores against the league’s bottom half and scoring confident wins over fellow contenders Echuca and Rochester.
Claiming the minor premiership with a 16-2 regular season, Ky would execute a clinical finals run, prevailing over Rochester and Mansfield, before getting past the Tigers by 29 points on grand final day and returning the Bombers back to the promised land for the first time since 2019.
JOSH RANKINS — BASKETBALL
Josh Rankins led Echuca’s basketballers to a rare feat in 2024-25.
Taking charge of the under-12 girls side, which had finished 32nd and 17th in recent years, Rankins marshalled his charges and led them to a secondplaced state ranking at the Victorian Junior Country Championships.
Rankins brought his squad together in the youngest age group in the country championships, developing professionalism and resilience among the group, leading to consistently strong tournament performances throughout the 2024-25 representative season.
The squad won tournaments in Echuca, Swan Hill and Wangaratta as well as reaching the grand finals in Shepparton and Bendigo leading up to the Country Championships.
At the major tournament in Bendigo, Traralgon was the only side to get the better of the Echuca Pirates,
first in the rounds and again in the grand final, but Rankins’ adaptable Echuca squad showed growth over the weekend and was able to cut the margin of defeat by 15 points in the decider.
KATE CHRISTIE — MOAMA GIRLS
An experienced umpire, Kate Christie took charge of Moama’s girls football program this year and saw immediate success.
Initially intending to take charge of the newlyformed under-14 program, Christie also took the reins at the girls side in 2025.
Managing 50 players across both sides Christie spent her season not only developing new players entering the sport for the first time, but guiding the girls’ side to dominant results.
She signed on several experienced names
from other clubs, forming a quality outfit that dispatched all comers throughout the year.
The Mowers dropped only two games throughout the year, claiming the title by 26 points over Shepparton United on grand final day.
Christie also coached the AFL Goulburn Murray interleague youth girls squad, is the national women’s and girls liaison for umpires, and was awarded the 2025 Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association AFL Victoria promotion of umpiring award.
MARK WHEATLEY — RUSHWORTH SENIORS
The turnaround of the top-grade football side at Rushworth was stark in 2025.
The Tigers didn’t field a senior side in 2023 and scored only five wins from 16 fixtures in 2024.
Under the leadership of Mark Wheatley, Rushworth not only improved that performance to a 9-7 season, but knocked off third-placed Shepparton East and fourth-ranked Nagambie to surge to the preliminary final.
Although they fell to Lancaster a game short of the decider, the Tigers were still one of the feel good stories of 2025.
Wheatly’s guidance also led Liam Francis to claim the Kyabram District League’s best-and-fairest award for the season.
SHEREE STARLING — RUSHWORTH A-GRADE
From the bottom to challenging for a premiership, the arrival of Sheree Starling as A-grade coach was a catalyst for Rushworth’s success in 2025.
After a winless 2024 season, Starling took the reins and led her side to a 12-4 record and fourth-placed finish, Rushworth then earning its way to a preliminary final appearance.
The Tigers made their way past Avenel and Tallygaroopna in sudden-death finals, before eventually falling three goals short to Starling’s old club Girgarre.
Starling also ran the club’s Net Set Go program, was coach of the under-15 side that reached the grand final and was named the KDL senior netball Coach of the Year.
MOAMA FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB
Moama continues to find success in the Murray Football Netball League, claiming its fifth straight champion club award, for most overall success, at the league’s presentation night. While top-grade success continued to elude the Mowers, the black and whites claimed another
three flags on grand final day, saluting in the reserves football and 15-and-under and 13-and-under netball. Moama also reached the decider in B-grade and 17-and-under, while finishing fourth on the ladder in A-grade and posting a 14-4 record in senior football.
TONGALA PRIMARY SCHOOL BOWLS TEAM
Tongala Primary School’s lawn bowls team is second best in the state.
Tongala moved through the Campaspe interschool bowls rounds, winning the division, then winning the Loddon-Mallee tournament to punch its ticket to the state final in Sunbury on Wednesday, October 29.
It was the third year the school had reached the state finals in bowls. At the state titles, Tongala defeated Buninyong Primary School 9-5, Plenty Parklands Primary School 10-4 and Yarrawonga College P-12 9-5 before falling to Cowes Primary School 8-6 in the final.
ECHUCA CRICKET CLUB
Echuca continued to dominate the local cricket scene in 2024-25, claiming a fourth consecutive McMahon Shield.
The champion dropped three games in the regular season, but took down local rival Moama by 86 runs in the semi-final and followed with a 101-run victory over
minor premier Rochester in the decider.
The club also claimed the B-Goulburn and U-17 T20 titles during the season.
Echuca was awarded a third consecutive champion club award, while all four senior men’s sides and the senior women reached at least the semi-final rounds.
MOAMA STEAMERS BOWLS
The green and black of Moama has been soaring across all levels of bowls in 2025.
The Steamers picked up accolades for fun throughout the year, headlined by the weekend state pennant, the highest honour possible for a domestic pennant side. Including the Campaspe Playing Area weekend pennant, the club qualified for the state finals by defending its Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Premier League
RUSHWORTH FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB
After some down years Rushworth broke out in 2025 across the grades. From fielding no team in 2023, the senior football side reached the preliminary final in Kyabram District League, while the A-grade netballers turned a winless 2024 season into a preliminary final berth.
Numbers are growing, as the club fielded a C-reserve netball side, after not doing so in 2024, and put together its first thirds side in several years.
Despite many players having never played football before the under-18s qualified for the finals, posting a 7-7 record.
championship, while also winning the weekend pennant in the local Campaspe Playing Area.
As a franchise, the second Bowls Premier League of 2025, BPL22 was won by the Moama side, with local player Cassandra Millerick and coach Kevin Anderson featuring in the win. Club representatives also starred on an individual basis, with several state titles, national caps and national finals among the list of accolades for the club’s bowlers this year.
Bowls team
DOUG AND TRISH BLACK — PICKLEBALL
Pickleball is thriving in Echuca-Moama and Trish and Doug Black are two of the reasons why.
Initially joining the sport locally as part of one-off sessions, the couple quickly took to the game and set about growing its profile in the region.
After successfully lobbying council for line markings at Echuca East Recreation Reserve, the pair then helped form an official Echuca-Moama Pickleball
Club, which began sessions in July, Doug serving as the inaugural president and Trish as vice-president. In just a few months the club has grown to more than 70 members and holds five weekly sessions across venues at the Echuca Basketball Stadium and Echuca College.
The club also held its first tournament in November, welcoming players from Bendigo, Deniliquin and Shepparton.
IAN WRIGHT — HOCKEY
Ian Wright has been a valued servant of Echuca Hockey Club for almost 50 years.
Joining the club in 1977, Wright has been involved with the committee and many club initiatives throughout the years and is a life member of Goulburn Valley Hockey Association.
His 25-year involvement with the Country Hockey Association included roles as a championship organiser, venue manager, umpire co-ordinator and treasurer.
Wright continues to run school clinics in Echuca, as well as support Echuca’s Hookin2Hockey program for juniors.
Now in his 80s, he continues to compete in the
THE FOOTY MAG
sport he loves and, in 2025, Wright added another silver medal to his growing trophy case, competing in the first over-80 event at the Hockey Australia Men’s Masters Championships.
Although he only played in three of his side’s seven matches before he was rendered medically unavailable, Wright was named in the 18-player Australian side to feature in the Masters World Cup.
Much like for the nationals, this is the first time Hockey Australia has sanctioned an over-80 side to compete at world level.
The Masters Hockey World Cup will be held from August 6 to 16 in Breda, the Netherlands.
MATTHEW DOBELI — ECHUCA CYCLING CLUB
During his tenure as president of Echuca Moama Cycling Club, Matthew Dobeli has been the driving force behind the club’s continued growth and success.
His tireless efforts have ensured that cycling remains a vibrant and accessible part of the Echuca Moama community despite the many obstacles faced in recent years.
Dobeli has devoted countless hours to the behind the scenes work that makes club racing possible.
From navigating the
complexities of race permits and traffic management plans, he has consistently stepped up to ensure that every event runs safely and smoothly.
Beyond logistics, Dobeli has been a passionate advocate for cycling. He has worked hard to promote the sport throughout the Echuca Moama region, encouraging new riders to get involved, supporting women and junior participation through come and try races and helping to create a welcoming club culture.
PANEL SPEAKERS
Sportstar
BRADY THRELFALL
Brady Threlfall is an elite marathoner, coach, and media personality hailing from EchucaMoama. A standout in Australian distance running, Brady was the 2015 Victorian Marathon Champion and holds a personal best of 2:19:38. His remarkable consistency has seen him ranked among the top 15 Australian marathoners in nine of the last ten years, with a racing resume that spans major events across the USA, Japan, Europe, and Australia. Beyond his own competitive pursuits, Brady is a leading voice in the industry as the host of the Inside Running Podcast, the country’s most-listened-to running podcast. He is also the co-founder of the online coaching platform Run2PB and serves his local community as the Event Director for the Sweat vs Steam Fun Run.
MARTY HORE
Marty Hore is a football player from Leitchville, Victoria, known for his time with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Melbourne in the 2018 AFL National Draftafter strong performances in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and made his AFL debut in Round 1, 2019 at the MCG, playing primarily as a defender.
After showing promise early in his AFL career, Hore faced significant injury setbacks, including a serious ACL injury, which interrupted his time at the elite level. He rebuilt his career through standout performances in the VFL with Williamstown and North Melbourne, earning back-to-back VFL Team of the Year selections. His consistent form earned him a return to Melbourne football Club in 2024, where he added further senior experience and continued for another two years.
Outside of football, Marty now works on his family farm in Leitchville, remaining closely connected to his regional roots while continuing his involvement in the game and the community.
JOH LYLE
Joh Lyle (formerly Joh Shaw) is a former Australian Olympic alpine snowboarder who represented Australia at two Winter Olympic Games and competed at the highest level of international sport for over a decade.
Johanna competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, finishing 29th, and at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, where she placed 19th, overcoming a serious injury earlier in the 2009–2010 season. She competed on the FIS Snowboard World Cup circuit for 10 years, representing Australia across Europe, North America, and Asia. In 2009, Johanna achieved a career-high world ranking of 4th, placing her among the world’s leading alpine snowboarders.
Johanna began skiing at a young age before switching to snowboarding in 1999. By 2005, she was Australia’s highest-ranked alpine rider and the only Australian competing on the World Cup circuit in the alpine discipline. She was crowned Australian National Champion for
10 consecutive years and also claimed the U.S. and Canadian National Championship titles in 2005.
In recognition of her achievements, Johanna was named Australian Snowboarder of the Year in 2002 and 2009.
REGIS CHAKABVA
Regis Chakabva is a Zimbabwean international cricketer known for his role as a righthanded wicket-keeper batter. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, he came through school and age-group cricket before making his senior international debut in 2008.
Chakabva debuted in Twenty20 and One Day Internationals in October 2008, later making his Test debut in November 2011. He has played across all formats for Zimbabwe, contributing both with the bat and wicket keeping behind the stumps. Across his 14-year international career he played in two One-Day International World Cups, and a T20 World Cup.
Throughout his career, Chakabva has also taken on leadership responsibilities, serving as vice-captain and even captaining Zimbabwe in a number of international matches, most notably in his last ODI series against Australia in Townsville. Zimbabwe lost that series against Australia 2-1, but with the last game which they beat Australia by three wickets they became the first Zimbabwe team to win against Australia on home soil. His experience and versatility as a wicket keeper-batter made him a long-standing
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figure in Zimbabwean cricket across formats. Since he moved to Echuca he’s been coaching and playing at Bamawm Lockington United Cricket Club. He’s currently working at St Joseph’s College and also serves as the head cricket coach. Regis is married to Matilda and they have two kids Ethan aged eight and Hannah aged four.
