Peninsula athletes receive Central Coast awards

Peninsula athletes have received awards at the recent Central Coast Sports Federation.

Woy Woy's Liesl Tesch was awarded the prestigious Sportsperson of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability for her gold medal in the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil.

Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club member Jemma Smith picked up the Junior Sportsperson of the Year for her efforts in the 2016 world lifesaving completion event in the Netherlands.

Mr Bill Curnoe received a recognition award for his involvement in Umina Rugby League and Margaret Thoms for her contribution to Peninsula Netball.

The Peninsula Junior Touch Association was awarded Association of the Year.

Ms Tesch won a gold medal at this year's Paralympic Games at Rio for mixed two person sailing and has a wide variety of sporting accolades.

Ms Tesch has competed in the national wheelchair basketball team at five Paralympics, winning three medals, as well as becoming the first woman to play the sport professionally.

After taking up sailing in 2010, she has won two gold medals at the Paralympic games, the first coming in 2012 in London.

Jemma Smith competed in the 2016 world lifesaving competition in the Netherlands this year, collecting seven gold medals at the event.

Ms Smith was named SLSNSW young athlete of the year for 2015-2016 and was voted Surf Lifesaving Australia's young athlete of the year.

She has also previously competed at the NSW and Australian Royal Life Saving Pool Championships and state and national Pool Rescue Championships.

Newsletter, 9 Dec 2016

Email, 20 Dec 2016

Matt Sawyer, Central Coast Sport and Recreation

Website, 11 Sept 2016

Umina Surf Lifesaving Club