Former Queensland Rugby League Chairman John McDonald was honoured for his service to the game by being induced in the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame last night.
Queensland’s first Origin coach was joined by AFL’s Simon Black, swimming’s Stephanie Rice and triathlon’s Emma Snowsill; while former Queensland and Australian rugby union centre Tim Horan was elevated to Legend status as the 16th Legend of Queensland Sport.
John McDonald with Simon Black, Steph Rice and Emma Snowsill. Photo: QSport
The Queensland Sports Awards, held at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre, celebrated an outstanding year in sport in the state, with Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell claiming The Courier-Mail Channel 7 Queensland Sport Star of the Year Award winner for 2016.
Queensland and Australian half Cooper Cronk was one of the nominees in a tough category which included 10 outstanding athletes, including Firebirds and Diamonds leader Laura Geitz and golf superstar Jason Day.
A 700-strong black tie audience at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre heard the announcement of Campbell’s win at the end of a night which saw 11 awards presented for Queensland’s top on and off field sporting performances in the period October, 2015 to September, 2016 and three further Service to Sport Awards presented for outstanding service.
Campbell was accompanied at the awards presentation by Rio Olympic Australian swim team-mates sister Bronte and Emma McKeon who along with Brittany Elmslie, teamed up in an all Queensland line-up in the final of the Rio Olympic women’s 100m freestyle relay to win gold in a new world record that won them the XXXX Queensland Sport Team of the Year Award for 2016.
The XXXX Queensland Maroons were finalists in the Queensland Sports Team of the Year category, while mentor Kevin Walters was nominated for Queensland Sport Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm.
State of Origin Game II was the fourth Queensland Rugby League contender nominated for an award on the evening, in the Queensland Sport Event of the year category which was won by the ANZ Championship Netball grand final.
The Queensland Sport Awards are conducted each year by QSport as the industry peak body of sport in Queensland which also coordinates the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.
QSport’s principal financial supporter is the Queensland Government while Channel 7 and The Courier-Mail also are major sponsors of the Awards and the Hall of Fame.
*Much of this story first appeared on the Queensland Sports Awards (Qsport) website
