Hall of Fame chair Don Cotter and respected sports & squash journalist Joseph Romanos received two of the sports top honours at the 2011 Squash New Zealand Awards held at last weekend’s Annual General Meeting at Auckland’s Copthorne Hotel.
SQUASH NZ PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Don Cotter was the 2011 recipient of the Squash NZ Personality of the Year plate for his contribution to the history of squash through the continued development of the Squash NZ Hall of Fame and through the history of squash book “Long and Short” which Don drove the development of. One year ago Don was initiated as a life member of Squash NZ and this year he said he was once more blown away to receive this award, stating in typical Don-fashion, that the award should not be given to him, but to the whole committee of the Squash NZ Hall of Fame.
SQUASH NZ CHAIRMAN'S AWARD
Each year, the Squash NZ Chairman selects a recipient of this trophy, which rewards a significant contribution to squash in the previous year. In 2011, sports journalist, squash enthusiast and author of “Long and Short: The Story of NZ Squash” Joseph Romanos was selected as the worthy recipient. Joseph trawled the country, interviewing hundreds of squashies throughout New Zealand to capture the incredible history of sport in what everyone agrees is a fabulous pictorial story of squash in NZ. Joseph was also a founding member of the NZ Squash Hall of Fame and every year works with his fellow Committee members to select inductees to celebrate. Joseph was given his award at the Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday night at Remuera Rackets Club and the interviewer was then interviewed by fellow Hall of Fame Committee Member Grant Smith.