Alex Barnes and Joel Thomas were named senior and junior Sportsperson of the Year respectively at the Australia Day awards at Mudgee’s Robertson Park on Monday.
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It’s the first time the pair have won this award and it comes after a stellar 2014 in their chosen sports.
Barnes plays basketball and has represented Mudgee, NSW Country and NSW.
Thomas was a member of the Mudgee Wombats under 15s premiership team and also played for NSW Country under 15s.
Thomas was the only one nominated in the junior sports category while Barnes was awarded the senior gong over Mudgee Rifle Club life member Leila Cole, vision impaired golfer Kerry Vidler and his caddy Helen (Sue) Vidler, and runners Rosie Gibbs and Kayt Dickinson.
Over the past two years has played for NSW Country men’s basketball team for players with a disability.
Last year he and his NSW team won the gold medal at the Special Olympics National Games.
His enthusiasm and good form caught the eye of the national selectors and was chosen for the Australian men’s team for the world games in Los Angeles later this year.
“It was great [to win the award]. I was very happy to get the nomination,” Barnes said.
Thomas will not forget his 2014 season on the rugby field in a hurry.
Apart from being one of the most important players in the Wombats under 15s side, he was a vital member of the NSW Country under 15s representative team and the Western Junior Gold team.
He went to Fiji where NSW Country had a successful tour.