Eddie Gilbert Medal Rohanee Cox (Basketball) Townsville

A product of Broome, WA, Rohanee won a Basketball scholarship to Willetton Senior High School in Year 8. Her talent on the court later resulted in her being selected for the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra where she trained for several years. After walking away from the game for three years due to injury and the birth of her daughter, Rohanee returned to the WNBL with the Townsville Fire in 2005. Known as the ‘Comeback Girl’ she went on to Co-Captain the Townsville Fire in 2008 and later achieved what most could only dream- winning a silver medal with the Australian Opals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

A strong figure in the Brisbane Indigenous community for the past 16 years, Roneece is involved in many facets of sport. She began coaching in 1992 in Athletics at St Patrick’s Winton before taking coaching roles in swimming and later hockey. A talented hockey player herself, Roneece contributes to the sport as a player, coach and fundraiser. In 2000, Roneece became a member of the St Peters Swimming Association, later becoming Secretary and President. Roneece’s involvement includes work in North West Queensland with the Gulf Sport and Recreation Association and Hockey Queensland.

Joshua Ah Wong (Athletics) Mackay

Growing up in East Mackay, Joshua displayed talent on the athletics track. Competing in the sport for only five years, he has competed at state and national level in 100m, 400m and 800m events. An active member of the community, Josh has helped the Saint Mary’s School for Multicultural Day and organised the Aboriginal Games activity at schools in Townsville, Longreach and Mackay as part of their NAIDOC week activities. In 2007 Joshua was awarded for his contribution to athletics and the Central Queensland community when he won the Leigh Ann Goodwin Indigenous Sports Youth Award.

Paul has built up an extensive boxing resume since his first fight as a 13 year old. Juggling his heavy training schedule and work as a labourer, the 20 year old raised in Tully managed to earn a name for himself in the featherweight division, when he won the bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Morocco. In 2008 he went on to accomplish his dream when he reached the round of 32 at the Beijing Olympics. Other achievements this year include the 2008 Oceania Championships in Samoa and the Chemistry Cup in Germany.

From the tip of Cape York in Bamaga to the world stage, Nathan is poised to become one of Australia’s greatest basketballers. Having only played the game since the age of 16, Nathan was a member of the Cairn Taipans NBL team where he was recognised as the 2008 NBL rookie player of the year and the Taipans most valuable player. Only five years after beginning his basketball career, Nathan, known as ‘Baby Shaq’ was this year drafted at pick 41 to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA.

Kingaroy’s Chris Sandow started his career in Brisbane with South Logan Magpies. He represented Queensland in under-17s and under 19s schoolboys before going on to play for the Gold Coast Titans. After a short stint with the Titans, he has not looked back since transferring to the Rabbitohs. In 2008 he has taken out the 2008 Dally M Rookie of the Year Award, the inaugural George Green Medal as the NRL’s Indigenous Rising Star and gained selection in the Indigenous Squad for the Dreamtime match which forms part of Rugby League’s Centenary celebrations. He also won the Peter Moore Award as South Sydney’s rookie of the year. Off the field Sandow is taking part in the South’s Cares Program. He is also completing a traineeship with ARL Development whilst carrying out his Certificate III in Community and Recreation.

A Maryborough Rovers junior who moved to Brisbane to play with Souths Logan Magpies and going on to achieving representative honours with selection in the Queensland Cup Residents team. Showcasing his natural talent to selectors, Maurice was signed by the Penrith Panthers and went on the debut in round 15 of 2007. At 22, Maurice has played 23 games NRL games.

Commenced his junior football in Cairns before moving to Victoria to play with the Murray Bushrangers. An up-and-coming star, Harbrow was drafted as a rookie by Western Bulldogs in 2006. After a short time at Werribee, Harbrow was called up for AFL debut in round 4 in 2007. Surprising everyone in 2007 with his exceptional pace and agility, he has since gone on to play 25 AFL games.

Growing up in North Queensland, it was at high school in Ravenshoe that he broke the long-standing 100m dash record set by Queensland and Australian rugby union champion, Peter Grigg. It was then that he realised he had a promising future in athletics. At the 2007 ISQ Awards, Gowa deservedly won the Catherine Freeman Encouragement Award. In 2008 he went on to win the Australian National 100m sprint title. However, his greatest accomplishment was finishing third in the 100m event at the Oceania Championships just four months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Hailing from Badu Island, 22-year-old Patrick Tamwoy was this year selected to travel to New Zealand with the National Indigenous Touch Football Team. He was also selected in the North Queensland open men’s touch football team to play at Nationals next year. He was a member of the TI Rugby League Grand Final Team with Badu Island and also excels at Basketball.