Words and pictures by Barry Irving
ON Wednesday 21st October 26 the 2026 Rye Sportsperson of the Year Awards night was held at the Rye Hotel.
All six local sporting Club members of the Rye Sports & Social Club had a table of 10, which included their Clubs nominees. Also, attending were many major sponsors and Life Members of Rye Sports and Social Club.
Life Member Gary Sanford welcomed all Clubs, their nominees, Life members and Special Guest before handing over to two of his daughters, Fiona Sanford-Shepheard and Vicki O’Sullivan who read out the details of all nominations and then interviewed the nominees who were there on the night.
The nominees were;
The Michael O’Rourke Senior Sportsperson of the Year Award:
- Charlie Wigg – Rye Cricket Club
- Sienna De La Soto – Rye Football Netball Club (Absent)
- The Gary Gillies Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award:
- Florence Seith – Southern Peninsula Little Athletics Centre
- September Rose Tonks – Rye Football Netball Club
- Sebastion Chow – Rye Tennis Club
- Charlie Mellet – Rye & District Basketball Club
- Finn Eagles – Rye Junior Football Club
The Fay McCormick Administrator Sportsperson of the Year Award:
- Rebecca Scholl – Rye Junior Football Club (Absent)
- Natalee Chiodo – Rye Tennis Club
- Nicole Plaukovits – Rye & District Basketball Club
- Mark Dusting – Southern Peninsula Little Athletics Centre
- Chris Nottle – Rye Cricket Club
Congratulations to all nominees.
The winners were:
Michael O’Rourke 2026 Senior Sportsperson of the Year Award
Sienna De La Sota – Rye Football Netball Club
Gary Gillies 2026 Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award
Finn Eagles – Rye Junior Football Club
Fay McCormick 2026 Administrator Sportsperson of the Year Award
Natalee Chiodo – Rye Tennis Club
All nominations highlight the exceptional Senior and Junior talent that exists in Rye and the amazing Administrator volunteers that help make their respective Club operate.
Thank you to the Rye Hotel for hosting this event and our major sponsors, Community Bank Southern Peninsula, MPSC, Rye RSL, After-Care (A’SIA) Pl, Rotary Club of Rosebud-Rye, Wittingslow Amusements and Dr Neil Stitt (South Coast Medical Centre)
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 28 October 2026
