The sporting prowess of the Illawarra and South Coast's youth has been formally recognised, with 17 exceptional primary and secondary school athletes receiving Blues awards at the 41st annual ceremony. Held on December 3, 2025, the event celebrated another year of remarkable achievements across a diverse range of sports.
President's Award for a Volleyball Star on the Rise
The prestigious President's award was claimed by 18-year-old Nowra High School student Mireille Smith, honouring her outstanding contributions to volleyball. Smith, a versatile talent in both beach and indoor formats, captained her NSW Combined High Schools (NSWCHS) team to consecutive gold medals in the all schools tri-series, where she was also named in the competition's all-star team.
Her success extended far beyond the school arena. Smith represented Australia at FIVB futures beach volleyball events in New Zealand and on the Gold Coast, demonstrating her skill on an international platform. Her selection for the Australian national performance program for beach volleyball further cemented her status as one of the country's most promising junior athletes.
Smith admitted the award came as a complete surprise. "When I first opened the letter, I thought it was just an invitation to the event," she said. "But then, I finally read it. I was like, 'oh, this is actually a big award,' and I just ran to my friends to tell them."
Olympic Dreams and Future Plans
With her HSC results pending, Smith plans to study dietetics in Wollongong or medical science in Sydney. Regardless of her academic path, her sporting ambitions are crystal clear: reaching the Olympic Games. "I was thinking 2032, but now maybe 2028 [is possible], so we'll see," she stated, reflecting her rapid ascent.
She believes the sport's profile is growing, thanks in part to recent Olympic coverage. "I really think with the Olympics recently, people liked watching it and then they realised volleyball is actually a really cool sport and the community is amazing," Smith said.
Celebrating Excellence Across All Sports
Alongside the 17 Blues awards, eight major trophies were presented to standout performers. The secondary school major award winners were:
- Brian Downes trophy for most outstanding achievement in athletics: Moses Fowler (Warilla Athletics)
- Ron Smith trophy for most outstanding individual secondary performance: Ciara Nixon (Corrimal High School)
- Laurie Constantine trophy for most outstanding overall individual: Sophie Bailey (Illawarra) and Cooper Markovic (Warilla)
- The President's award: Mireille Smith (Nowra High School)
Primary school athletes were also honoured with major awards:
- Multiclass athlete of the year: Porshe Mangos (Lindsay Park)
- John Macintosh trophy for notable achievement in an individual sport: Brooklyn McWilliams (Flinders)
- Peter Dobson trophy for outstanding performance in school sport: Ginger Kerr (Shellharbour)
- Sid Hayes trophy for most outstanding representative in primary school sport: Pauliasi Lago (Mount Saint Thomas)
The full list of 2025 Blues award recipients highlights the region's sporting diversity:
Primary School Blues: Lucas Gill Gomes and Jarrah Flack (athletics), Bohdi Turner, Asher Mayo and Jack Frost (hockey).
Secondary School Blues: Lillian Ragan (basketball), Bohdi Charlton (AFL), Sophia Nio (swimming), Jordan Barlow (touch) and Kasey Barton (cricket).
The 41st South Coast Blues awards have once again underscored the depth of young sporting talent emerging from the region, providing a springboard for future champions on both national and international stages.
