Secretary-manager of the Lithgow Work-mens Club Geoff Wheeler had the honour of presenting the prestigious award to the big forward.

It has been a great year for West who has been hampered by injuries in the past.

This season he has been injury free and was a consistent performer each week with his fearsome charges and bone rattling defence.

West was overwhelmed with the award and spoke in glowing terms of the efforts of his coach Graeme Osborne who had made him the player he is today.

There were a number of award winners who spoke highly of Osborne, both as a coach and as a mentor off the field.

West was a worthy winner in a team that went within a couple of points of taking out the 2015 grand final, ultimately won by Orange CYMS 14-10.

It was a good day for the West family with Brendan’s sister Chrissie, who represented Group 10, picking up a swag of awards including Oz League’s best and fairest and the club’s top point scorer.

Master of Cere-monies for the night was Corey Osborne who performed a very professional job and kept proceedings moving along at a good pace with a serving of humour mixed in.

Club president Anthony Boza delivered a review of the season tracing the fortunes of the club’s four teams.

He then thanked all those who helped out during the season stating that these people are the backbone of the club and their efforts helped to make the 2015 season the success it was.

Thanks were also extended to Jeff Geddes and the Lith-gow Mercury and Pete Watson of 2LT for their coverage of the club during the year.

Premier League coach Graeme Os-borne also addressed the crowd thanking all the players from each of the teams who make up what is a very strong club.

“It is not only those who run out in the top grade that make a club, it is everyone that turned out in all four grades and gave their best that make a club strong.”

He especially mentioned those who work hard off the field and congratulated in particular club president Anthony Boza and his wife Carol for their hard work and support during the year.

He also thanked Kath and Richie Bilby, Carol Osborne, Olive Ward, Roxsanne Van Veen, the Oz League girls and others who helped out during the year in the canteen along with the bar personnel, strappers, trainers, gate keepers, time keepers, ground announcer, ground managers and ticket sellers.

He also thanked the club’s valued sponsors especially their major sponsor the Lithgow Workmens Club who were represented on the night by Geoff Wheeler, club president Howie Fisher, Peter Quinn and Brian Morris.

The awards were then made to the various teams:

Best and Fairest: Oz League Chrissie West; under 18 Mitch Case; first division Harry Knight; Premier League Corey Willmott.

Players Player awards: Oz Tag Madi Bender; under 18 Riley Allan; first division Kyle Willmott; premier league Jonathan Van Veen and Wayde Egan.

Manager appreciation to the following managers: Oz League Jake Gale; under 18 John Legge; premier league Anthony Boza.

Coach’s gifts went to the following coaches: Oz League Corey Stockton; under 18 Ross Harrington; first division Kyle Willmott; premier league Graeme Osborne.

Representative players: Tahlia Nugent, Madi Bender, Mallory Goodman, Chrissie West, Mitch Case and coaches Graeme Osborne and Anthony and Tanya Boza.

The Digger Corney Memorial Award for the Highest Points scorer: Chrissie West with 168 points.

President’s award: Harry Knight.

Rookie of the Year: Cody Godden.

Val Northey Most Improved award: Harry Bender.

Clubperson of the Year: Kyle Egan.

The large crowd enjoyed a sumptuous meal served up by the Workmens Club and were later entertained with some very funny novelty awards, again presented by club captain Chris Rhodes.