Nominations Open for 2023 Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame

The 31st annual Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame is currently open for nominations for the 2023 intake, with an induction ceremony to be held at Newcastle Harness Racing Club, Broadmeadow in late August.

The Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame, coordinated by the Hunter Academy of Sport (HAS), is made up of over 400 top athletes who have represented Australia or competed in an international tournament and were born and/or played in the Hunter region at the junior or senior level.  

Last year five athletes and officials were recognized and received the elite honour of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Those inducted were:

• Clayton Zane (Football)
• Colin John King (Parachuting/Sky Diving) *
• Samantha Poolman (Netball)
• Katie-Rae Ebzery (Basketball)
• Mavis Randle AM (Hockey Officiating)

*Deceased

The 2023 intake of athletes will join the likes of well-known Novocastrian’s Jenni Screen, Ray Baartz, Mark Richards and Danny Buderus, to name a few.  

To be eligible to be inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame nominees must have represented Australia as an athlete or official at an authorised event, must be retired from their professional sport and born or competed/officiated for a team/association in the Hunter Region.

Brett O’Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of HAS said of the event, “We are very excited to yet again host the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame.  It is a great chance to recognize and celebrate the careers of athletes in the Hunter Region with their family and friends, and to honor the impact that sport has on our region.” 

“In honour of the upcoming 2024 Olympics, it is always exciting to reflect on the past and to celebrate the past achievements of our local athletes, athletes who are both newly and long retired from professional sport. It is an opportunity to reflect and honour these people for reaching the highest point in their sport. We look forward to celebrating our 2023 intake of athletes in August with our Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame committee, HAS board members and of course our inductee’s friends and families,” O’Farrell followed.

For more information on how to nominate, please visit www.hunteracademy.org.au/hall-of-fame  Nominations will close Sunday, 16^th July.