It doesn’t matter what sport you love, we’ve got it covered. In 2025 we celebrated our stars, young and old, and featured some of the less well-known sports – check them out.
16. National champion helps Wagga Disc Golf take flight
by Jarryd Rowley
Wagga Disc Golf founder Janet Cartwright has been crowned Australian champion for women over 50 after winning in Western Australia in November. Photo: Wagga Disc Golf.
Rawlings Park has been given new life with the installation of Wagga’s first disc golf course.
The nine-basket course has been operating for just a few months with the help of volunteers from the Wagga Disc Golf Club, including a recently crowned champion from the Australian Disc Golf titles.
Wagga Disc Golf founder Janet Cartwright won the Female Amateur – 50 or over category in Mundaring, Western Australia.
15. Wagga primary students beat teenagers in unthinkable tug-of-war win
by Marguerite McKinnon
David beats Goliath in the tug-of-war battle of the century. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
If this wasn’t recorded on camera, you might not believe it.
Children as young as five pitted against high school students, some three times their age, in a game of strength, and they won.
14. Gundagai coach lands role with St George Illawarra
by Tallon Smith
Aaron Gorrell with son Will after the Tigers won the grand final in 2025. Photo: Tallon Smith.
Former NRL player and Gundagai Tigers rugby league mentor Aaron Gorrell has taken a huge step forward in his career after being named Jersey Flegg coach of NRL club St George Illawarra Dragons.
After leading the Tigers to a fifth title in 10 years in his first season at the helm this year, the Albion Park-Oak Flats junior will return to the Illawarra to take charge of the Under 21s side beginning in 2026.
13. Riverina-based rider Jodie Dunstan shines against six-time Australian Olympic dressage doyen
by Jodie O’Sullivan
Dancing queen … Riverina dressage rider, coach and judge Jodie Dunstan and Hollands Bend Highlander enjoyed several podium finishes in one of Australia’s premier dressage events at picturesque South Coast equestrian venue, Willinga Park. Photo: Simon Scully Photography.
Long-standing Riverina dressage rider and coach Jodie Dunstan has secured a spectacular podium finish against hallowed six-time Olympian Mary Hanna at one of Australia’s most prestigious equestrian events on the South Coast of NSW.
The Table Top-based trainer and her own mighty 18 hand-high horse Hollands Bend Highlander claimed second place against Mary and her internationally campaigned mount Ivanhoe in the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle at Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea competition.
12. Caleb eyes Supercars seat following Bathurst 6-hour
by Jarryd Rowley
Cootamundra’s Caleb Hefren had a day out on Easter Sunday after taking part in the Bathurst 6-hour race. Photo: Brittany Hefren.
Racers from around the globe dream of taking on Mount Panorama and Cootamundra’s Caleb Hefren has made it a reality.
Mr Hefren secured a seat as a support driver with RPM86’s Tony Prior and his speedy Toyota 86 as part of the Bathurst 6-hour event on the Easter long weekend.
11. Thriving new Muay Thai gym attracts people of all ages
by Jarryd Rowley
Temple Fight Gym owners Ash and Jennie Fewson and coaches Rick Judd and Adam Dawe welcome people of all ages to Temple Fight Gym. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
On the surface, Muay Thai may seem only to be a hard-hitting, full-contact form of martial arts, full of flips and tricks.
For many involved in the sport, such as Ash and Jennie Fewson, the owners of Temple Fight Gym, Muay Thai is about embracing community, staying fit and enjoying the thrill of a good, clean fight.
10. Game, set and match as groundsman ‘for a fortnight’ ends 66 years of service to Griffith tennis
by Oliver Jacques
Jack Clifford with wife Jean. The couple have been married for 64 years. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
From playing in white long pants at Tharbogang mud courts in the 1960s to mowing lawns in the 2020s, Jack Clifford was celebrated for his stellar service to the sport he loved.
Jack has retired after 66 years of loyal service to tennis in Griffith, serving as a player, committee member, volunteer, and groundsman.
9. ‘Discrimination’: Yoogali Soccer Club fights likely expulsion from Canberra league
by Jarryd Rowley
Yoogali has won a championship in a Capital Football-based league as recently as 2023, but will likely be removed from all Capital Football. Photo: Yoogali Football.
Given its rich history and an even more impressive on-field record, it makes sense that any football league in the country would want to host a successful regional club like Yoogali.
After defying all odds as a regional club nearly 4.5 hours away from Canberra – the National Premier Leagues Capital Football’s base of operation – it has found a way to compete with NSW and the ACT’s best clubs, winning the league in 2023.
Yet, after overcoming the challenges that come with being a small-town team and finding a way to be promoted to the top league that Capital Football offers, the Yoogali Soccer Club could be kicked from the competition.
8. ‘World’s best sledger’ Rawle overcomes adversity to win Barellan Masters title at age 68
by Oliver Jacques
Cheryl Rawle won the ladies’ doubles with partner Liz Barker. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
How do you keep winning tournaments when you’re past retirement age, lost your pace and your recent years have been consumed by family tragedy?
Veteran Griffith tennis coach Cheryl Rawle, 68, once again showed what you have between your ears can be your most important asset, winning gold in the ladies’ doubles event with partner and nurse Liz Barker at the annual Barellan Masters Games.
7. Ex-AFL star and orienteering champion inducted into Wagga Sporting Hall of Fame
by Jarryd Rowley
Former AFL premiership player Matt Suckling and orienteering champion Robert Vincent have been added to the Wagga Wagga Sporting Hall of Fame. Photo: Museum of the Riverina.
Two-time AFL premiership winner Matthew Suckling and orienteering champion Robert Vincent have become the two latest inductees into the Wagga Sporting Hall of Fame.
The two sporting heroes join more than 90 other inductees, including Paul Kelly, Peter Stirling, Mark Taylor and Sally Shippard, to receive the honour.
Meanwhile, AFL coach, player and volunteer Shane Lenon has had his contributions in developing AFL in the region recognised after being named a Local Legend.
6. Nangus pocket rocket wins multiple gold again, but says winning silver was his favourite – here’s why
by Marguerite McKinnon
Nangus Primary School champion Cody Wheeler with his five gold and one silver medal and four ribbons from the national School Sport Australia Track and Field Championship held at the AIS in Canberra at the weekend. Photo: Cody’s mum Peta.
Cody Wheeler has once again rewritten the record books in his final year at Nangus Public School as their first ever national athletics champion, after winning five gold and one silver medal at the School Sport Australia Track and Field Championship.
Nangus Public School – which has just 10 students – didn’t want to miss witnessing Cody making history. So every pupil and teacher hopped onto a bus borrowed from Gundagai High School and drove to Canberra to cheer him on.
5. Albury tennis prodigy to travel to United States to train at prestigious academy
by Oliver Jacques
Lara Meagher comes from a tennis family in Albury. Photos: Oliver Jacques.
Albury tennis sensation Lara Meagher, 15, took another step in her sporting career by moving to the United States for a month to train at the prestigious Raleigh Tennis Association academy in North Carolina.
Lara is the granddaughter of legendary coach Phil Shanahan and great-grand-niece of Albury’s Margaret Court, who has won more Grand Slam titles than any other player in tennis history.
4. Griffith cheerleader switches from Roosters to Sharks as career takes magic turn
by Oliver Jacques
After two years as a Rooster, Lara Salvestro is now a mermaid. Photo: Supplied.
Trying to switch NRL clubs may have been a drama for Lachlan Galvin and Daly Cherry-Evans, but for cheerleaders, the change is generally seamless.
Griffith dancer Lara Salvestro made waves when she launched her career with the Sydney Roosters in 2023, but this season she transitioned to become a mermaid.
4. 2000-plus games and still loving the sport: Phil Horwell is a Wagga Touch Football legend
by Jarryd Rowley
Phil Horwell has been a referee in more than 2000 games across five different decades and is now a Wagga Touch Association Life Member. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Phil Horwell has clocked up some impressive milestones in his 40-plus years touch football career, but none more so than gaining his National Referees’ Badge at the age of 73.
The Wagga man’s long service to the sport was recently recognised when he was named Wagga Touch Association’s newest Life Member.
2. Griffith touch football rising star and NSW rep named junior sportswoman of 2025
by Oliver Jacques
Lahni Mogliotti with her younger brother Makhi. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Lahni Mogliotti was named Junior Sportsperson of the Year at the Griffith City Council Australia Day Awards, for her outstanding achievements in touch football and athletics.
The 12-year-old, who finished her primary schooling at Griffith East last year, is known for her pace, skill and teamwork in all sports she plays. She has already represented her state and picked up a string of awards, particularly in touch.
1. From the Coota Bulldogs to the NSW Origin side without a single NRL appearance – meet a Riverina legend in a league of his own
by Jarryd Rowley
Paul Field remains the only man in State of Origin history to have never played an ARL/NRL game. Photo: Supplied.
State of Origin is the pinnacle of rugby league in Australia.
The best of the best from NSW and Queensland battle it out for 12 months of bragging rights over their clubmates. So you would expect someone chosen for the illustrious honour to have been hand-picked from the top competition in the country – the National Rugby League (NRL) or its state-based predecessor the NSWRL, or the QRL.
This wasn’t the case for Cootamundra legend Paul Field, who was chosen for the NSW representative team with no professional games in the NSWRL under his belt. He remains the only player, among the nearly 500 who have appeared in State of Origin since 1980, to have never played premiership football in the Sydney or Brisbane first-grade competitions.
