The bankmecu Gippstar Awards acknowledge outstanding sporting achievements by Gippslanders. They have been running since 1960.

Monthly awards are made in senior and junior categories, with annual awards to the most outstanding achievers for the year.

The newly-crowned Australian Hillclimb Champion, Brett Hayward, has been named the bankmecu Senior Gippstar winner for November.

In addition to his Australian title, Hayward also won the Victorian, South Australian and Queensland Championships during the year. All titles were scored in a car which he designed and constructed himself.

The Junior bankmecu Gippstar winner was go-kart racer Troy Alger.

Troy, at only 12 years of age, won the 2011 Rookies Australasian kart titles (red plate). He has also had a number of other top results in rookie events.

Lisa Alexander, formerly of Leongatha, was named as the Gippsland Champion. Now coach of the Australian Netball Diamonds, Alexander was nominated aftera test series win against New Zealand and the Diamonds regained World number one ranking.

Link to full story.

Monthly winners who were eligible for the 2011-12 Annual bankmecu Gippstar Awards were:

Senior
Bradley King, speed karting (winner, July 2011)
Clinton Jee, disability basketball (August)
Kaila McKnight, distance running (September)
Andrew Brady, clay shooting (October)
Brett Hayward, hillclimbing (November)


Junior
Lily Collins, swimming (winner, July 2010)
Ashley Christopher, karate (August)
Damon Morton, distance skiier (September)
Darcie Morton, table tennis (October)
Troy Alger, go karting (November)

Our news stories are archived so that you can look back at the previous monthly winners from 2007-08. Link directly from here.

Public nominations of worthy Gippsland sportsmen and women are welcome. Details are on our Nominations page.

 
   Ashley Delaney

A swimming gold and three bronze medals at last year's Commonwealth Games were the highlights of Ashley Delaney's year.

Ashley has become a regular on Australian swimming team squads and competed in a number of other international events.

Aoife Coughlan at the
Australian Championships

Aoife Coughlin has achieved international success by winning gold at the Oceania Judo Union Championships in the Cadet Women Under 63Kg for the second year in a row.

Aoife also won the Junior Women under 63kg class.

Aoife's selection followed wins at the Australian Championships and in international events in Australia.

Link to full story.

International basketball champion Belinda Snell won the Gippsland Sporting Champion Award. She played in both USA and European leagues.

In the Team of the Year category Gippsland Knight’s under 17 Women’s team was successful and Traralgon Swimming Club won the Club of the Year Award.

      Darrell White and Lorraine Steel

The 2010-11 Annual bankmecu Gippstar Awards recognised three individuals who have shown long and outstanding service to sport.

The Special Award winners were stalwart Stephanie O’Brien (Cowwarr Football/Netball Club), lawn bowler Lorraine Steel and sports all-rounder Darrell White.