Published on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 11:51:00 AM
The Town of Port Hedland and Principal Partner BHP recognised the outstanding contributions of Hedland's sporting community at the 2026 Town of Port Hedland & BHP Community Sports Awards.
The annual awards celebrate the athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and sporting organisations whose dedication, leadership and community spirit continue to strengthen sport across Hedland.
This year’s award recipients were:
- Sporting Group of the Year: Hedland Junior Football Association
- Umpire/Official of the Year: Illa Crawford
- Coach of the Year: Thomas Bennett
- Volunteer of the Year: Troy Morrissey
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Brooklyn Bennett
- Senior Sportsperson of the Year: Rebecca Amy
- Access and Inclusion Award: Jacqui Reminis
2026 Pilbara Regional Sports Awards:
- Official of the Year: Illa Crawford
- Coach of the Year: Thomas Bennett
A new addition to this year's awards program, the Access and Inclusion Award, acknowledges the individuals and organisations helping to create more accessible and welcoming sporting environments, expanding opportunities for participation across the community.
Town of Port Hedland Mayor Jacinta Behrend said the awards were an opportunity to acknowledge the collective effort that makes community sport possible.
"While we often celebrate athletes and teams, these awards also recognise those behind the scenes whose commitment and hard work help community sport thrive.”
"The recipients and finalists recognised this evening represent the very best of Hedland's sporting community, demonstrating dedication, leadership, perseverance and a willingness to support others."
Guests also heard from Australian rugby league legend Mal Meninga, who attended the event as special guest speaker.
Widely regarded as one of the game's greatest players and leaders, Meninga shared insights from his sporting journey and reflected on the values of commitment, resilience, teamwork and leadership that underpin success both on and off the field.
The awards were made possible through the support of Principal Partner BHP, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, and award sponsors Itochu, Horizon Power and Elevation Health.
Photo (L-R): Thomas Bennett, Jacqui Reminis, Illa Crawford, Matt Mathe, Brooklyn Bennett, Lauren Boersma and Rebecca Amy.
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