Significant off the field awards were awarded to Wayne and Cheryl Bradley.
A 2024/25 life membership was given to Cheryl, joining her husband in elite company.
She and Wayne also jointly received the Debbie Nicholls award for volunteers of the year for the Southern Riverina Cricket Council.
The under-12s Riverina Steers side was presented with the Derek Rogers Cup on the day, going undefeated for the season.
Deniliquin players Henry Pisasale and Joe Holden were part of the team.
The under-14s and under-16s also went undefeated, having already received their premiership accolades.
Standout players from each age group were also recognised for their achievements across the season.
The Bradleys are both longitime servants of Southern Riverina Cricket and junior sport in the Deniliquin district.
Wayne was awarded an inaugural life membership of the Southern Riverina Cricket Council in 1993.
“The Southern Riverina Cricket Council was formed in 1979 by New South Wales Cricket, and I was involved with the formation when I joined as an administrator in 1981,” Wayne said.
“I then stayed on in an administrative role until I stepped down in 2021, but we both still have an active involvement with Southern Riverina Cricket and with the training camps, match weekends and catering jobs.”
Wayne said Cheryl has made a significant contribution over four decades, without which the sporting body wouldn’t function as smoothly as it does.
“Cheryl, over those 40 years, has been a fantastic support to the Southern Riverina Cricket, she’s very switched on with the requirements for catering and looking after and developing kids,” Wayne said.
The pair were particularly involved over the past season, with Deni hosting several days of representative junior cricket.
“Deniliquin hosted the Colston Scammell Shield and were due to host the Owen and Bradley Shield which was cancelled by the heat, but should return be back next year with the Rhinos sure to be involved again in the future.”
Wayne said the awards were a shock, but the honour was very much appreciated.
“The life membership was quite a surprise. Cheryl didn’t quite believe it at first,” he said.
“It was totally unexpected and is really appreciated.
“You do spend a decent amount of time, and it shows people do appreciate it.
“It’s all about connecting with the kids and making sure they have opportunity in sport.”
With an extensive background as educators in Deni, this is not a one off for the Bradleys.
Both have been very involved in several local sport organisations, with their impact on sport in Deniliquin continuing still.
The pair have a long honour roll of contribution in Deniliquin with Cheryl’s life membership of the SRCC this year adding to her life memberships of Deniliquin Junior Soccer Club in 1992 and Deniliquin Swimming Club after 30 years of service in 2021.
“We’re both long-time supporters of sport in Deniliquin,” Wayne said.
“We’re also both life members of the junior soccer club.”
“Cheryl is also a life member of the junior swimming club after involvement as a volunteer instructor and administrator.
“Being involved in these positions sort of just happened.
“I was an administrator at Riverina PSSA, with the school teacher’s background, (our son) Anthony also went through the system, while Cheryl had a career in family day care so she was involved with kids and that continued into sport.”
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