Forbes Sportsperson of the Year Association president Andrew Norton-Knight has urged all the town’s sporting codes to embrace the association’s annual awards presentation after he was re-elected to lead the committee recently.
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Norton-Knight delivered his 2014 president’s report at the recent annual general meeting, expressing gratitude to those who supported the February 28 awards night, but also disappointment at the lack of nominations from several key clubs.
“Many of the bodies of sport played within the town or in its surrounding areas, nominated individuals or teams … Of those sports that didn’t, it was not through lack of requests or effort by the committee to obtain their nominations,” Mr Norton-Knight said.
“The real disappointment to us was the total non support by the so called ‘big’ sporting bodies of senior rugby union, senior rugby league, soccer and senior cricket in not nominating any individual or team for consideration by the judges.”
The SOYA president, who was re-elected unopposed at the March 23 AGM, pondered whether the clubs did not have worthy nominees or whether apathy was the major factor.
Norton-Knight thanked the small, but hard-working SOYA committee, particularly secretary Anita Morrison and treasurer Sue Uphill, who were also both re-elected unopposed last month.
“Their organisational skills are an absolute credit to them both, and a bonus to us,” he said.
Norton-Knight also thanked the many sporting bodies who supported the organisation’s awards night with nominations, and businesses who gave their financial support with trophies and sponsorship.
He also thanked the independent panel of judges, who had some tough decisions to make after the nominations closed.
“A difficult job, but done with what I believe to be very fair and unbiased decisions.”
After thanking SOYA vice president Andrew Grierson, who was MC of the presentation night held at Forbes Golf and Sportsmans Hotel, Norton-Knight closed his report by wishing all sporting clubs and individuals well in 2015.
“Lastly, thanks and congratulations to all the sportsmen and women of Forbes for being such ‘good sports’. Hopefully gaining the enjoyment and satisfaction that sport is able to provide makes it all worthwhile for the hard work at training and playing,” he said.
“Let’s hope that 2015 unearths much sporting talent that we can celebrate at our next SOYA awards night.”
Others elected to positions at the recent SOYA meeting were vice-presidents John Schrader and Andrew Grierson, publicity officer Michael Bushell and committee members Maree Hodges and Maree Schrader.
Meanwhile, SOYA secretary Anita Morrison says sporting bodies or family and friends will soon be able to nominate a sportsperson via social media.
Ms Morrison is in the process of setting up a Forbes SOYA facebook page, featuring information on how to make a nomination.