Get ready to nominate your sporting hero for the Sporting Hall of Fame
Published: 19 Jun 2025 3:20pm
After a six-year hiatus, the City of Good Sports is looking for the next inductees into the Sporting Hall of Fame, with nominations for the prestigious honour and the Local Legend category opening on Tuesday 1 July 2025.
Council’s Sporting Hall of Fame was established in 1993 and is located at the Museum of the Riverina - Botanic Gardens site.
It recognises more than a hundred sportspeople, including our first Olympic gold medallist Alicia Quirk (Women’s Rugby Sevens), former Matildas team member Sally Shipard (soccer), Brownlow Medallist Paul Kelly (AFL), Geoff Lawson (cricket) and Steve and Chris Mortimer (rugby league).
Nominations for the Sporting Hall of Fame were last called in 2019, but the induction ceremony did not occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While nominations are not open yet, Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout is encouraging sporting groups to start thinking now about someone they would like to nominate, who meets the criteria for the Sporting Hall of Fame, and Local Legend category.
“The Sporting Hall of Fame recognises the exceptional achievements of local elite sportspeople who have reached the pinnacles of their careers and reflects the valuable contribution they have made to their sport and to our community,” Cr Tout said.
“The Local Legends category recognises our local sporting administrators, coaches, volunteers, or coordinators, as an integral part of the development of the sport within our city.
“It has been six years since Council last called for nominations so there must be more than a few worthy nominees out there in our community.”
In 2019, Council revised selection criteria for the city’s Sporting Hall of Fame to make it clearer for future panellists and nominators.
Council’s Recreation Coordinator Joshua Walsh advises those thinking of making a nomination for 2025 to look carefully at the selection criteria before making a submission.
“Athletes will be eligible once they retire from either international competition, or the highest level of competition in their chosen sport where international representation is not available,” Mr Walsh said.
“In addition, an athlete must be nominated by their respective sporting club or association for both the Sporting Hall of Fame and Local Legend category.”
The nominations are overseen by a Councillor, along with Council’s Strategic Recreation team and a nominated community representative.
The inductee ceremony will be held at the Museum of the Riverina in November 2025, where the successful 2019 nominees will also be inducted: Kate Blackwell and Alex Blackwell (cricket) – Sporting Hall of Fame; and Brian Lawrence (cricket) – Local Legend category.
Nominations open on Tuesday 1 July and close at 5pm on Thursday 31 July 2025.
Once they are open, you will be able to download a nomination form by visiting museumriverina.com.au/shof or contacting Council’s Strategic Recreation team on 1300 292 442.