Sport
5 November, 2021
Scooting to gold in Charters Towers
It was a night of Olympic legends, heroes, and dedication to sport when Charters Towers Regional Council hosted the 30th annual NQ Sportstar Awards last Saturday.
First held in 1990, the NQ Sports Foundation awards are the longest running dedicated sports awards in Queensland.
Australian Winter Olympic gold medallist Steven Bradbury OAM was guest of honour and keynote speaker.
It was a golden night for Cairns, with 2020 Paralympian Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson winning Athlete with a Disability, Cairns decathlete Liam Gilbert recognised as the Senior Athlete whilst Cairns Triathlete Rachel Matthews won the Masters Athlete gong.
Also featuring on the night were Strafford Dolphins Under 14 Team recognised as runnerup in the Sportstar Team of the Year and Nora Pennefather from the Hekili Outrigger Canoe Club, recognised as runner-up in the Service to Sport Awards.
Five international sporting legends were inducted into the NQ Hall of Fame on the night: Cathy Freeman OAM – Athletics, Tom Gorman – Athletics, Laurie Lawrence – Swimming, Pat Rafter – Tennis and Karrie Webb AM – Golf.
The NQ Sports Foundation Sportstar awards recognise sporting excellence across 24 regional council areas stretching from Isaac Regional Council (south of Mackay) through to the Torres Straits.
