Australia Day: Young sportswomen celebrated

Kady Morgan with her award.

TWO young sportswomen were recognised in the Derwent Valley Council's Australia Day Awards on Sunday.

The title of Young Citizen of the Year was the first award presented at this year's Australia Day celebration on the Derwent Esplanade in New Norfolk.

The recipient, New Norfolk High School student Kady Morgan, was described as a young person who dedicates her spare time to sporting pursuits, community, and advocacy for life in New Norfolk.

Kady has won awards in horseriding at the state level and has also been a Tasmanian representative in cheerleading. She has been a member of the New Norfolk Junior Football Club since seven years of age, when being a female player was still regarded as unusual.

She captained New Norfolk's Under-15 girls football team and last year became the first female to play 100 games in New Norfolk colours. This year she has set herself the goal of encouraging more girls to play AFL and to develop her coaching skills so she can one day coach a New Norfolk team.

Anna Blackwell.

The award for Derwent Valley Sportsperson of the Year went to Anna Blackwell, who last year completed Year 12 at St Mary's College while excelling in the sport of racewalking.

She has won two national medals and was a gold medallist at the 2019 Oceania Area Athletics Championships in Townsville, where she represented Australia.

Anna has been awarded a Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship for this year to assist her to further develop her athletics career. She is described as a committed athlete who holds herself to high standards.

Anna gives back to her sporting community by mentoring and officiating at Little Athletics. Her Australia Day Award was accepted by her mother, Joanne Blackwell.

* The award for Junior Sportsperson of the Year was abolished in the recent review of the council's Australia Day Awards policy.