Bendigo Sports Star Awards began back in March 1965 and were known as the Caltex Sports Star Awards. The first recipient was Eaglehawk cyclist Frank McCaig and the Awards have grown in stature ever since. Each month our judging panel selects a monthly Sports Star and these athletes are then considered for the main award - Bendigo Sports Star of the Year.
Further to the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year, the awards now feature the Cyril Michelsen and Maxine Crouch Trust Funds for up and coming athletes, as well as the prestigious Hall of Fame Award.
In more recent times, the Faith Leech Inspiration Award was introduced to acknowledge the inspiring achievements of a member of the local sporting community as was the Healthiest School Awards - celebrating our local schools' commitment to promoting health and wellbeing. We have a wonderful group of sponsors too, helping to support our local athletes with the introduction of our Scholarships Program.
Sports Star's reputation remains as an outstanding initiative that acknowledges and champions local sporting achievements and identities.
Major Sponsors
Scholarship Sponsors
Media Partners
500 Club Sponsors
AFS and Associates Chartered Accountants
Alan McCaig
Bart ‘n’ Print
Bendigo Bearings
Chateau Dore
Cheryl Hesse
Fay Forbes
Geoff McLeod
Great Ideas Awards & Gifts
Greg & Anne Sherman
Julie Gillick
LTS Equipment
McCaig Air Conditioning
MDH Constructions Pty Ltd
Raylene Harradine
Red Energy Arena
Rick & Pat Dungey
Yorkshire Park Standardbreds