As the Yass Valley Council Sports Awards continue to creep closer, it is time to start introducing this year’s nominees.
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Up first is Alice Henman, a Yass local and prominent swimming talent.
The 11-year-old is a sporting polymath; she competes in swimming, netball, cross country, and athletics, while still making time for her studies.
“Yeah, kind of...” was Alice’s reply when asked if she has any time to herself between school and sporting commitments, “[but] not really.”
Alice’s nomination came in the mail two weeks ago, and she stated that she is “pretty excited” about it.
Alice was nominated by her coach, Sherree Bush. Ms Bush has been working with Alice for three years, and decided to put the youngster’s name up for contention because “she’s a very hard worker, and she’s obviously excelled [in the last year]”.
She’s a very hard worker, and she’s obviously excelled.
- Sherree Bush
Excelled may be an understatement. In the 2016 season, Alice took home medals from the Mt Carmel Swimming Carnival, Northern Region Carnival, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Carnival, and the MacKillop – NSW CPS Carnival (Catholic State).
Additionally, she placed in the top 20 in the state for freestyle and butterfly, and won the dedication to training award and the Coach’s Award at Yass Swim Academy Presentations.
Although the swimming pool closes over winter, Alice continues to train once a week down in Canberra. Her mother, Francis, drives her to and from training, and is “happy to do it for her.”
“There’s only a certain amount of years that you get to transport your kids around for that sort of stuff. As long as she’s happy to do it, we’re happy to take her.”
Francis said she felt “very proud” of Alice for her nomination, and believes that it inherent in her daughter’s personality to push herself to excel.
“She puts her heart into everything, so she deserves the nomination.”
The Council Sports Awards seek to congratulate local sporting talent for their achievements in the previous year. It nominates players for awards in five categories:
- Sportsperson of the year – open (national or state)
- Sportsperson of the year – local (regional or local)
- Sportsperson of the year – junior (18 years or younger as of December 31, 2015)
- Club person of the year
- Team of the year (national, state, regional or local)
Alice has been nominated in the Junior Sportsperson category.
The winners of the each award will be announced at a Sports Council dinner on the 29th of July.
