Written by Joseph Fajloun
Receiving the Charles Sturt Sporting Leader of the Year Award in 2025 was an incredibly proud moment for me. I was ecstatic and honestly quite surprised to hear that I had received the award.
More than anything, I felt proud that the work I had put into CSU Mitchell Rugby, not just throughout 2025 but over the years before it, was being recognised. I had volunteered my time as President, coach and captain, while also trying to lead by example as a player on the field, so the award felt like recognition of the commitment I had made to the club.
Mitchell Rugby has become a second family to me. When I first became involved, I was struggling to find a club to play for, and I never expected that I would find such a close group of people who would become lifelong friends and such a significant part of my life. The club gave me a real sense of belonging and people I knew I could talk to whenever I needed them.
It has also helped me grow into the person I am today, teaching me responsibility, leadership and how to support others. Through some difficult periods in my life, the club has been something I could rely on and has played a big part in helping me overcome those challenges.
Receiving the award gave me extra confidence and motivation to continue leading the club into the 2026 season, which is my final year as President. It has encouraged me to leave the club in the best position possible, while helping younger players develop, become their best selves and hopefully find the same sense of belonging that I found.
The prize money was also incredibly meaningful because I was able to use it to help my family at home. It allowed me to contribute financially and support my father and two sisters, which meant a lot to me.
I believe recognising student athletes, volunteers, leaders and clubs in the Sports and Blues Awards is important because so much work can happen behind the scenes without recognition.
Students put countless hours into building clubs and supporting others, and sometimes it can feel like that effort is for nothing. Recognition can remind people that their work matters.
To anyone considering nominating themselves or someone else, I would simply say; go for it. You miss every opportunity you don’t take. I nominated myself without knowing what would happen, and I was fortunate enough to have my hard work recognised.
Nominations for the 2026 Sports and Blues Awards open Monday 7 September.
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