The best of North Queensland's sporting talent was celebrated in style on Saturday night as the 35th Annual North Queensland Sportstar Awards returned to Townsville for the first time in nearly a decade.
Held at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, the prestigious event recognised 88 finalists across nine categories, with standout athletes, teams, and community contributors honoured for their achievements and dedication to sport.
Townsville's own Winter Olympian Alexander Ferlazzo took out the coveted Senior Sportstar of the Year Award following a stellar season that included a ninth place finish at the Korean World Cup, earning himself first place in the FILA American Pacific Championships.
In the Junior Sportstar category, Uwezo Lubenda, also from Townsville, was recognised for his exceptional sprinting performances which has recently gained the world's attention after breaking the Queensland School Sport under-16s 100m record with a 10.35 second dash.
Other winners included:
- Team of the Year: U18 Mackay Meteorettes (Basketball, Mackay)
- Para-Athlete of the Year: Dale Potter (Special Olympics, Mackay)
- Rural & Remote Sportstar: Cade Ferguson (Rodeo, Cloncurry)
- Masters of Sport: John McKaig (Swimming, Townsville)
- Sports Excellence: Karin Thorbun (Running, Burdekin)
- Service to Sport: Lenny Chiesa (Surf Life Saving & Rugby League, Hinchinbrook)
- Sports Impact: Lewis Fuller (Dragon Boating, Townsville)
North Queensland Sports Foundation CEO Alexander Fisher said the record number of nominations this year reflected the depth of talent and passion for sport across the region.
"This year's awards were our biggest yet, with 88 finalists representing a wide range of sports and communities," Mr Fisher said.
"From Olympic athletes to grassroots volunteers, these awards celebrate the people who make sport in North Queensland so special."
"In a surprise end to the night, the North Queensland Sports Foundation and Australian Athlete Fund announced several scholarships of $10,000 to support athletes on an Olympic journey from Townsville, so to say it was a fantastic night would be an understatement."
The recipients of $10,000 scholarships were Uwezo Lubenda (sprinter), Zoe Chester (long jump, triple jump) and Jack Olsen (gymnast).
Townsville Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney congratulated the winners and praised the introduction of the new Sports Impact category, recognising the vital contributions of volunteers, coaches, and administrators.
"Behind every great athlete is a team of dedicated supporters, so it was fantastic to see those efforts acknowledged on such a terrific night," Cr Greaney said.
"It's no secret our region is home to a number of world-class athletes, so to see a cohort like those who took home prizes on Saturday night all come together from across North Queensland, was really special."
The North Queensland Sportstar Awards are presented by the North Queensland Sports Foundation in partnership with Townsville City Council.
Over the past 35 years, the awards have recognised more than 200 winners and 3,500 nominees, cementing their place as the longest-running and most prestigious regional sporting awards in Queensland.
