The Hunter Academy of Sport celebrated its 2018/19 athlete cohort at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club on Thursday with a presentation night attended by close to 100 guests.
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The night, hosted by HAS board member Ross Allen, brought together recently named 'Best & Fairest' athletes and their families across 13 of the Academy's programs, corporate sponsors, life members and board members in celebration of the athletes' achievements throughout the year.
The prestigious 'Athlete of the Year' was awarded to softballer Joshua Banks after an incredible year of state and national team selections.
Banks was part of the NSW under-17 side this year and was picked for the Australian under-17 side that competed in the under-23 national championships.
He was also in the NSW All Schools side and was named in the All Australian Open School Boys Team.
He is currently in training with the aim to be selected in the Australian Junior Steelers side for the 2020 Junior Men's World Championships.
The Academy also named hockey coach Ben Brown as the Volunteer Coach of the Year and AFL program manager Craig Golledge as the 2018/19 Manager of the Year.
Alongside celebrating these achievements, Academy chairman Ted Aitchison welcomed former NBN News sports reporter Mike Rabbit as a life member, after his continued support and generosity to the Academy throughout the past 30 years.
The Academy thanks the NSW Office of Sport, Your local club, the University of Newcastle and Greater Bank for their support.
