Last month I had the pleasure of attending the Ovens and Murray Hall of Fame dinner in Albury.
This event was professionally run, complete with a video/photo presentation and audio outlining the player’s specific talents, traits and accomplishments.
Unlike ‘team of the centuries’, the hall of fame is selected under strict criteria — there is no room for sentiment or opinion and an inductee must meet the criteria before even being considered.
It took the organising panel the best part of two years to put the criteria and selection process together.
Last week, Gianluca Iannucci was selected in the Australian under 20s soccer squad, and this week will pit his talents against 29 of the best young soccer players in Australia, who are all vying for a spot in the final 23-player squad.
Gianluca is one of the many outstanding sportspeople who have come from the area in the past century or so.
They have represented the area in sports — from football, soccer, golf, swimming and diving.
The area is rich in sporting talent and this is testament to the clubs, coaches and families involved, their hard work and dedication to providing an environment which these talents can be nurtured.
The region already pays homage to these talented local sports people, with the Cobram Barooga Sports Star Awards.
This event is in its 30th year and has not only honoured individuals, but teams and events as well.
The event has its own hall of fame and it features a bare foot water skier and a pistol shooter — not the typical sports you may associate with a hall of fame in this area — but none the less are worthy inductees.
Clubs, organisations and the general sporting public should embrace these awards, they represent the good things that sport can do for individuals and teams alike and these nights provide a platform for the sport to shine.
—Greg Watmore is an advertising representative at The Courier and a sports fan.
