By Barry Irving
Rye Sports and Social Club held its annual Sports Person of the Year awards at the Rye Hotel on Wednesday, 22 October.
Guests included club sponsor Southern Peninsula Community Bank Bendigo Bank, led by board chairman Vin Cheers and accompanied by Paul Zaltsberg and Renae Dunston. The Mornington Peninsula Shire was represented by Andrea Allen and Cam Williams, while Rye RSL was represented by Bruce White and Andrew Laing. Life members, nominees, club delegates, and family also attended.
MC for the evening was Gary Sanford, with nominees interviewed by Fiona Shepheard-Sanford and Vicki O’Sullivan.
Nominees for the awards were:
Seniors:
Linton Hardy: Rye Football & Netball Club
Sarah Newnham: Rye Tennis Club
Ravinda Weligarma Palliya Guruge (Ravi): Rye Cricket Club
Juniors:
Poppy Moser: Southern Peninsula Little Athletics Club
Jemma Whitaker: Rye Football Netball Club
Finn Eagles: Rye & District Basketball Club
Finn Eagles: Rye Junior Football Club
Administrator:
Jonathon Lane: Rye & District Basketball Club
Jarrod Davenport: Southern Peninsula Little Athletics Club
Brendon Atkins: Rye Junior Football Club
Russell Atkins: Rye Tennis Club
Winners of the three categories were:
The “Michael O’Rourke” Senior Sports Person of the Year: Ravinda Weligama Palliya Guruge (Ravi)
The “Gary Gillies” Rye Junior Sportsperson of the Year”: Finn Eagles
The “Fay McCormick” Administrator of the Year: Russell Atkins
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 29 October 2025
