Now, the latest class of the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame will be recognised for those efforts when they are elevated alongside the best-of-the-best in the annals of the region's sporting history.
The third induction ceremony of the prestigious initiative - where 26 more sporting legends will join the ranks of the Hall of Fame, Honour Roll or Junior Honour Roll - will be held on August 6, and in the lead-up their stories will be told.
The News has once again partnered with Greater Shepparton City Council to highlight the achievements of all of the new inductees, but also help give you a peek behind the curtain of what makes a successful sporting star tick.
Success is not only defined by the action on the field, pitch or court either - with many of the latest round of inductees having a prominent background in umpiring, coaching, volunteering and administration.
The Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame Advisory Committee trawled through all of the nominations for the three categories, before eventually landing on the 26 inductees who will be celebrated throughout the next month.
Cr Anthony Brophy, Cr Geoff Dobson, David Booth, Darryl Butcher, Don Kilgour, Belinda Conna, Margo Koskelainen, Peter Holland and David Quinn currently sit on the advisory committee.
Beginning Wednesday in The News, take in one story in each edition of the paper as the ceremony itself approaches.
Hear from footballers, lawn bowlers, cyclists, baseballers, basketballers, golfers, sprint, speedway and motor car racers, sports aerobics stars, shooters, cricketers, volleyballers, hockey players, squash and badminton players, netballers, athletes and dancers - and once all 26 have been profiled a special magazine will be available with all of the stories as a keepsake of the momentous occasion.
The inaugural Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in 2017, where 27 outstanding sportspeople were bestowed with the honour of selection in the initiative.
This was followed in 2019 by a further 23 sporting stars joining the ranks of the Honour Roll and Junior Honour Roll - meaning this year's event will bring the number of inductees across the three categories to 76.
