2024 CSNSW Sports Award Evening

The annual NSWCPS Maroon awards and NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Blue Awards involves the presentation of awards and recognition of the top students in all sports from NSW Catholic primary schools and NSW Catholic Secondary Schools and Colleges. The inaugural combined primary and secondary awards evening was staged at the Sydney Cricket Ground, on Wednesday 11 December. 

The NSWCPS Maroon awards, now in their second year, recognised the top 60 students from across 16 sports from NSW Catholic primary schools. Eight Wollongong Diocesan students, as outlined below, were part of this outstanding group of athletes.

2024 NSWCPS Maroon Award winners from Wollongong Diocese were:

For our secondary students the Annual Blues evening, now in its 27th year, involved the recognition of the over 65 top students in 19 sports from NSW Catholic Secondary Schools and Colleges. The highest achieving boys and girls from each sport are judged by the NSWCCC Blues committee considering their 2024 achievements which often involves NSWCCC, NSW All Schools and Australian representation. 

Nine students from our Wollongong Diocesan schools were recognised for their outstanding achievements in 2024.

2024 NSWCCC Blue Award winners from Wollongong Diocese were:

The primary Maroon and secondary Blues Awards is the culmination of a busy year and a great showcase for the sporting pathways available to students in Wollongong Diocesan Schools. 

Above: Some of our Wollongong Blue recipients on the evening. 

Back row: Liesl Hopoate (Mount Carmel Catholic College, Varroville), Sullivan O'Dwyer (John
Therry Catholic College, Rosemeadow), Anneliese Cullen (Magdalene Catholic College,
Narellan), Chase Grant (Edmund Rice College, West Wollongong), Henry Jones (Edmund
Rice College, West Wollongong) and Tim Gilmour (Deputy Director, Wollongong Catholic
Education Office).

Front row: John Sparks (CEDoW Professional Officer, Sport) Kerryn Barnett (Head of
Wellbeing and Student Support, Improvement Learning and Wellbeing), Madison Torres
(Mary Immaculate, Eagle Vale), Maia Twentyman (Mary Immaculate, Eagle Vale), Logan
Jones (St Clare's, Narellan Vale), Madelyne Monahan (Good Samaritan, Fairy Meadow),
Jessica McLeod (St Therese, West Wollongong) and Morten Ellerington (St Michael's,
Nowra)

Guest speaker, for the primary awards was a Paralympian Tim Hodge, a dual gold medallist swimmer at the Paris Olympics. Despite early challenges, including the loss of his right foot and other physical differences, Tim’s resilience and commitment to excellence propelled him to international success. Tim shared his inspirational story to the audience and his message to students was to work hard and pursue their dreams.

The CCC blues guest speaker was Paris Olympian Emma Nedov, a former student of
Brigidine College, St Ives. Emma talked about her the battle with injury and her remarkable journey back from major injuries to gain her ultimate goal of Olympic team gymnastic selection. Emma’s story was a testament to her resilience and perseverance and she encouraged our athletes present on the night to pursue their dreams.

The evening was well supported by representatives from Catholic School NSW, many school Principals and all NSWCCC conveners and Diocesan sporting representatives.  

The NSWCPS and NSWCCC Blues Awards are a great showcase of the sporting talent and pathways we have in our schools and we congratulate our Wollongong students on their fine achievements.