Emilee Cherry accepts her Senior Sports Star of the Year Award from Randy Krause.		  
Joshua Robinson accepts his Junior Sports Star of the Year Award from Mick Smith (l) and David Russell.		  

Emilee Cherry joined a select group featuring the likes of shot put star Justin Anlezark and hockey great Nikki Hudson on Saturday night after being named Senior Sport Star of the Year at the Sports Darling Downs annual awards at Rumours International.

The judges could not look past Cherry after her outstanding 2011 which featured a World Cup win with her Australian open women's touch team and an unexpected foray into the world of international rugby sevens.

She was ecstatic with her Senior Sport Star of the Year honour when she took to the stage on Saturday night.

"It is very humbling. I can't use words to describe it," she said.

"They read out the names of the people who have won it before and it is great to be with them."

Cherry edged out indoor cricketer Blake Anderson for the senior award while Joshua Robinson won the Junior Sport Star of the Year award after a great year in athletics.

A crowd of more than 400 people attended the awards night.

(Report by Ben Drewe, The Chronicle)

   
Guest speaker Aiden Lister, graduate of the Speak Up For Sport Course, addresses the audience.   Junior runner-up Matthew Denny with David Russell of Southern Downs Mazda and Warwick Holden.   Senior runner-up Blake Anderson with Mick Smith of Sports Darling Downs.

 
Team of the Year The Glennie School Junior Knockout Athletics Team.   Team of the Year Fairholme College Junior Touch Team.

     
Sponsor Clive Berghofer with Sandra Hawken, Head of School at the Primary School of the Year (Toowoomba Prep).   Sponsor Clive Berghofer with John Anderson, Director of Sports at the Secondary School of the Year (Toowoomba Grammar).   Junior Rookie of the Year Emma Walls with Stan Moffatt of ClearFuture Financial Services.   Coach of the Year Gerrard Keating with Mick Smith of Sports Darling Downs.