Annual Awards 2024

2024 Frank Smith Memorial Sportsperson of the Year

Brayden Oddy & Macey Bryant (Rodeo - joint winners)

Brayden’s achievements in rodeo and particularly steer riding in 2024 are impressive and this junior bull rider won a national title during the year.

He was an Australian national finalist top 15 in the Australian Bushman and Camp Draft Association for ages 14-18 junior steer riding, where he finished 4th overall.

Brayden had his biggest achievement in 2024 at Blayney in the Bucking Bulls Australia National Finals in May where he was crowned champion Junior Bull rider at this event after impressive performances.

Travelling extensively to many events he was also a top 5 finalist at the “Battle on the Bidgee” stockman's challenge and secured multiple placings and wins in steer and junior bull riding in both NSW and Queensland.

Brayden is currently leading the Australian Junior Bull Riding title in 2025, showing his skill in this tough sport.

Being crowned Champion Junior Bull Rider at a National Level is a wonderful achievement for this young dedicated sportsman.

Macey is 15 and has been competing in Barrel Racing, Pole Bending and Breakaway Roping at local, National and International level.

In the Australian High School Rodeo Association (AHSRA) Finals held at Bendemeer in January 2024 Macey competed in both Barrel Racing and Pole Bending, placed in the top 4 overall in both events.

This qualified her for the Australian High School Rodeo Team and earned her a trip to America. What an opportunity!!

In the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) Finals Macey represented Australia in Des Moines, Iowa, USA in June.

Competing at an elite international level, Macey had strong performances despite riding a hired horse she was unfamiliar with. This demonstrated her ability in the sport.

She maintained a number of consistent and competitive runs against top riders from across the world in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, made possible by the support of her community.

Macey and her family travel extensively across NSW and other States to compete at an elite level, showing her dedication and commitment to the sport.

Many great performances from Macey culminating in representing Australia at an international event in America.

2024 Junior Sportsperson

Halle Johnson (Swimming)

Halle had an incredible 12 months in the pool, representing at a high level at school and club events.

She is part of a dedicated group of Cootamundra swimmers who are excelling in the sport at all levels.

Representing the Cootamundra Swimming & Lifesaving Club at numerous carnivals in the Southern Inland Swimming Association, Halle performed at a high standard for the whole swimming season.

At the NSW Country Championships Halle qualified in 6 events, recording PB’s in each race with two top 10 finishes.

She qualified for the 2024 Australian Age Championships in 2 events and 2024 Senior State Age Championships in 5 events.

At school level Halle competed at the Canberra-Goulburn archdiocese carnival and broke 5 records in freestyle, butterfly and backstroke.

Halle is the local club Captain and sets the standard for all junior swimmers in Cootamundra. Halle has had a wonderful 2024.

Halle receiving her award from Mick Simons (ARTC)

 

2024 Rising Star Award

Harry Simons (Soccer & Cricket)

Harry had a tremendous year of sport in 2024, starring in both cricket and soccer.

In cricket, Harry was part of the Cootamundra under 14 cricket team that won the South West Slopes competition, scoring 50 runs in the final.

He was also in the South West Slopes representative side that won the Geoff Lawson Cup, where he took 4-6 off four overs at Holbrook.

In the start of the 2024-25 cricket season Harry was selected in the Murrumbidgee 14’s team to play other regional teams at Dubbo.

He played under 16’s cricket for Cootamundra, the SWS representative team and in the Cootamundra Bulls B grade side in a busy season.

Recently he was awarded the Collingridge Family Trophy for his performances in junior cricket for 2024-25.

In soccer, playing under 14’s for the Strikers Harry collected the Best and Fairest trophy, players player and player of the finals.

He also played in the under 16’s team and performed well against older players.

His talents were noticed by Football NSW and he was selected as a member of the FNSW NAIDOC Cup team.

He was the only country-based player in that team, showing his talent and potential.

He has attended the Football Wagga Wagga sports academy trials and Wagga Wanderers under 15/16’s trials.

Harry was named the Australia Day sportsperson of the Year by the CGRC.

A very talented sportsman, Harry Simons has great potential. Good luck in the future.

2024 Sporting team of the Year

Strikers Women's Soccer Team

The team of the year was the Cootamundra Strikers second grade women’s team that won the Madden Shield Grand Final against the strong Hanwood Football Club 2-1 in extra time (after scored were locked at 1-1 at full time).

The game was played in front of a big crowd at Wagga’s McDonalds Park and the Strikers proved they were the best team in the competition in this game.

It was a great effort from the team, with Louise Raleigh named player of the match.

It was also a special match for Annette Parkinson, who is finally hanging up the boots after a decorated career in the sport.

The Strikers ladies - deserved winners of the team of 2024.

Grand final success for the Strikers!

2024 Junior Team of the Year

Bradman Letter under 16’s Cricket

The annual Bradman Letter junior cricket game between Cootamundra and Bowral is the pinnacle of junior cricket in the town.
Played in January each year, the game highlights the connection between Sir Donald Bradman and the two towns.
Born in Cootamundra, Bradman’s family moved to Bowral when he was three years old.

As his cricketing career blossomed, Cootamundra residents decided to raise money for Don Bradman to assist him with his costs in playing cricket.

In 1929, at age 21, Don Bradman wrote a letter to the residents of Cootamundra thanking them for their generosity.
This letter was framed and a Bradman Letter cricket match was planned for juniors and the first game between the two towns was held in 1978.

In 2023, the Cootamundra team recorded a win at Fisher Park against Bowral –the Southern Highlands Junior Cricket Association and then repeated that achievement in 2024.

Back-to-back wins for the Cootamundra team are rare in this annual match, but with the same nucleus of players the locals rose to the occasion in the two games, the first time in 23 years this has been done.

In 2023, the team was coached by Peter Louttit and in 2024 James Dunk was in charge. Both men have put a lot of time and effort into junior cricket in Cootamundra.

All players contributed to the wins and the town was very proud of a fantastic team effort as they represented their town with distinction.

2024 Local Sportsperson

Annette Parkinson (Soccer)

Annette Parkinson has been a part of the Cootamundra Strikers from the age of 14 and in 2024 Annette played her 400th game for the Cootamundra Strikers Soccer Club.

For a lot of years, the Cootamundra Strikers only fielded one Women’s side, making it difficult to tally up games.

Annette also was called up to play Men’s Reserve Grade in 2001, adding to her game tally and her experience.

Annette has achieved the remarkable record of playing 330 First Grade Women’s Games and 70 Reserve Grade Games for the club.

Early on in her football career, she put on the keeper gloves and showed herself to be a stalwart goal keeper and a dominating presence even from between the posts.

In 2010-12 she took on the role of Assistant Women’s Coach and then continued to coach for 2013-2015 and in 2020-2021.

Throughout her football career she has not only been a player but an integral part of the Cootamundra Strikers Community.

Annette was awarded Life Membership in 2022, a great reward for the dedication and commitment to the club that they both have shown over the years.

To cap off her playing career the Women’s Strikers team won their grand final in Wagga last year, with Annette playing a key role in that victory.

Individual Medalists

The following people received medals for their achievements in 2024:

Arabella Bassingthwaighte - PSSA State Sport

Claudia Nott - PSSA Athletics

Emily Tanks - NSWCHS AFL

Jake Winsor - Swimming

Sophie Boxsell - Rugby

Lauren Connell - League Tag

Ashlee Peacey - Swimming

Sam Manwaring - Swimming

Lexi Phillips - Cycling

Special Awards

Les Boyd - NRL Hall of Fame

David Buttriss -  Rugby League         

 

Max Rudd Trophy – Service to Sport

Peter & Ange Louttit (Junior Cricket)

Max Rudd was an inaugural member of the Cootamundra Sports Foundation and assisted many sporting groups and individuals along the way at his sports shop.

He was a very talented cricketer and AFL player and represented Cootamundra in both sports over many years.
It is fitting the Contribution to Sport award is named after him.

This award for 2024 goes to two people who have assisted Cootamundra Junior Cricket over many years.

Peter and Ange Louttit promoted the game by coaching teams, getting young cricketers playing the game, helping representative cricket, organising coaching clinics, undertaking many administration duties and seeing the improvement in the practice nets area at Bradman Oval.

Peter coached junior teams and helped out many age groups especially the very young cricketers who were just starting to play the game.

Kanga cricket and then the Blasters coaching program is a wonderful introduction to the game for our young cricket stars of the future.
Peter was coach of the 2023 Bradman Letter team that defeated Bowral to reclaim the silverware for Cootamundra. That was a pleasing reward for Peter and Ange after all their hard work.

Improving the training nets at Bradman Oval has been a project that has helped all cricketers in town.

The development of the South West District Junior Cricket competition involving teams from Cootamundra, Temora, Harden and Young has seen many benefits. A lot of work went into that. This competition has seen an improvement in the standard of cricket and players can get the opportunity to play at a higher level in representative cricket.

Ange has always been there to help Peter and they both worked hard off the field as well in many ways with fund raising and organising the annual presentation day at the end of the season.

A number of other people have helped Pete and Ange with junior cricket over the years but without their individual commitment to helping the game, junior cricket in Cootamundra would not be as strong as it is.

2024 Sports Administrator Award

Wayne Berkrey

The Sports Administration Award for 2024 goes to Wayne Berkrey for his tireless work for three football clubs in Cootamundra over many years.

Starting off playing rugby league as a junior before moving into the senior club and playing for the Bulldogs he also captain/coached the reserve grade side in that time.

He was a coach, committeeman and then President of the Cootamundra Junior Rugby League Club for 9 years. That is a long stint in the top job!

Under his leadership the club prospered with playing numbers increasing, improvements to the amenities at Nicholson Park taking place and greater involvement of people within the club, making it a real family affair.

He was made a Life Member of the Junior Bulldogs for his dedicated work for the club, a well-deserved honour for Wayne.
Making the move to the senior footy ranks with the Bulldogs, he continued on his legacy from the junior club.

He was a committeeman and then took on the President’s role for the Bulldogs in 2013,14 and 15.

In more recent times Wayne moved into assisting the Cootamundra Tricolours and has made a significant contribution to that club in many roles.

Currently the President, Wayne is a hands-on person and has steered the club in the right direction following on the excellent work from many people that resulted in the transformation of the Country Club Oval into Bassingthwaighte Park and this wonderful club house.

Wayne’s commitment to the club has been clearly seen by many but his behind the scenes work often goes unnoticed.

The introduction of players from the Pacific Islands to the club has seen another dimension to Wayne’s work and the way the players have embraced the club is recognition of his people skills.

Wayne Berkrey does not seek recognition for his work but it is fitting that he is awarded this administration trophy for his commitment and dedication to three sporting clubs in the town.