SINCE it began in the mid 1960s the Bendigo Advertiser Sports Star of the Year has recognised outstanding feats by individuals and teams in so many fields.
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Sports Star is now celebrating the remarkable feat of 50 years.
The golden anniversary will be celebrated next February at the All Seasons Hotel in Bendigo.
Generous support from Bendigo Bank and Prime 7 has ensured the awards continue.
Various media partners and sponsors have teamed up with the Bendigo Advertiser over the past five decades to keep Sports Star running.
The awards are the longest-running of their type in the country.
Yearly and monthly winners in Sports Star will gather to mark what is an incredible achievement.
Since cycling great Frank McCaig was awarded the first gold statuette in 1965-66 the performances of so many athletes from central Victoria on the world stage is astounding.
Contenders for the 2014-15 award include Tour de France competitor Zak Dempster, world champion yachtsman Glenn Ashby, and Commonwealth Games gold medallist and netball goalshooter Caitlin Thwaites.
Add Geelong captain and AFL Team of the Year player Joel Selwood, golfing ace Lucas Herbert, and clay target shooting champion Emma Cox and it's a hot field vying for gold.
Bendigo is also home to the country's number one women's basketball team.
The Bendigo Spirit's back-to-back triumphs in the WNBL grand final has the team in the running for the 2014-15 award.
The feats by the early winners in Sports Star such as Frank McCaig, boxer Billy Fry, water skiers Kaye Thurlow and Glenn Thurlow, Bruce Petts on the athletics circuit, and cyclists Phil Sawyer and Colin Fitzgerald were an inspiration for many as the years have rolled on.
Yearly winners such as Ashby, O'Shea, basketball great Kristi Harrower (pictured), and rifle shooting ace Geoff Grenfell continue to excel.
Ashby has rolled on and ruled the waves at many world titles campaigns.
It's amazing when you consider the ocean-racing competitor learnt his craft on Lake Eppalock.
Sports Star is more than just about who is the monthly and yearly winner.
The awards presentation include the Maxine Crouch and Cyril Michelsen trust funds. Both play a key role in providing much-needed funds and encouragement to talented youngsters.
The Hall of Fame includes outstanding achievers on and off the track, court, field, course, pool and so many other sporting arenas.
The Sports Focus Administator of the Year is now a feature on presentation night.
For many of the administrators there is little or no cash provided for what they do. In many instances they have keep going year after year, just like Sports Star has done for so long.
Performances by so many from central Victoria on world stage is astounding