In conjunction with the Mallee Sports Assembly, the night recognises the best sportspeople from around Sunraysia across a host of sports.

The 12 winners from the Mallee Sports Assembly Sports Star of the Month will be hoping to take home the Peter Manolas Trophy as the Sports Star of the Year.

Mallee Sports Assembly executive officer Carmel McKay said there had been a record 135 nominations for this year’s award.

“It’s not going to be an easy choice to decide the winner,” Ms McKay said.

“The awards in general show how much the sports people make a contribution to this community.”

Teams will also be recognised tonight, with the Junior Team and Senior Team of the Year to be announced, as well as the Club of the Year to be awarded.

Other awards that will be presented include the Coach, Aboriginal, Athlete with a Disability, Administrator and the Volunteer awards.

There will also be further inductions into the Hall of Fame.

Ms McKay praised the way Sunraysia residents had got behind the Sports Star of the Year Awards.

“This wouldn’t be a success without the support from the community,” she said.

Touch footballer Luke Thornton said it was an honour to be nominated again for the Peter Manolas Trophy after being a member of the South Australian men’s 30s state team, competing in the National Touch League.

Thornton said it was pleasing for touch football to be recognised along with more well-known sports.

“To get some recognition for the sport in general is probably more important to me than the actually personal recognition,” Thornton said

“It’s nice to be among your peers of all the different groups and it would be nice to catch up with different areas and have a chat with them.

“I’m happy to be recognised and for the sport to be recognised as well.”

After only taking up powerlifting five years ago, Sunraysia powerlifter Aaron Hawkins echoed Thornton’s sentiments. “It’s a fair honour to be honest, this is easily the best achievement in my career,” Hawkins said.

“It’s nice to get some recognition because as with all sports, especially with low-profile sports, it’s just a hobby that you bat along with.

“I was 25 when I wandered up there and I had never touched a weight in my life.”

Australian Olympic gold medallist in hockey Claire Mitchell-Taverner will be the special guest speaker.

This article appeared in Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 10/02/2012.