NOMINATIONS will open next month for the 2026 Redlands Coast Sporting Hall of Fame and Sports Awards with organisers promising a bigger event and introducing a new Masters Athlete of the Year category.
The annual awards, now entering their third year, celebrate the achievements of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and sporting contributors across Redlands Coast.
Redlands Coast Sporting Hall of Fame Committee Chair Pat Carroll said nominations would officially open on June 16 and close on August 15 ahead of the awards gala at Sheldon College on October 17.
Mr Carroll said one of the biggest changes this year would be the introduction of a Masters Athlete of the Year category for competitors aged over 50.
“We had a forum earlier this year where we brought a lot of the sponsors and clubs together and that was one of the suggestions that came out of that forum,” he said.
All existing categories from last year will remain, including awards recognising coaches, officials, administrators and all-abilities athletes.
Mr Carroll said organisers were particularly encouraging nominations in several categories that had fewer entries last year.
“Official of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year and Administrator of the Year are the ones where we’d really like to see more nominations,” he said.
“We also want to remind everyone about the All-Abilities Athlete of the Year category too.”
The committee has also announced the creation of a new Pass It Forward Fund, which will provide scholarships to emerging Redlands athletes competing on the world stage.
Mr Carroll said the fund aimed to ease financial pressures often faced by developing elite athletes.
“We’re going to be able to support them with accommodation, travel, coaching, sports medicine and all that sort of thing,” he said.
Olympic beach volleyball gold medallist Natalie Cook OAM has been confirmed as the event’s guest speaker.
Mr Carroll said the awards had continued to grow each year, and organisers expected the 2026 event to be the biggest yet.
“We’d encourage all sporting clubs and volunteers to get their nominations in,” he said.
Organisers are also preparing to launch a new website for the Hall of Fame ahead of this year’s awards program.
