McDaniel inspires stars at awards | Fraser Coast Sport | Local Sports in Fraser Coast

Guest speaker Michael McDaniel (left) presents a trophy and a bottle of wine to December sports star winner Donald Miller and Warwick Loan Centre manager Barry McKinnon. A similar presentation was made to each monthly winner.

GUEST speaker Michael McDaniel challenged the 11 Daily News/Warwick Credit Union Senior Sports Star monthly winners at Monday night’s awards dinner to consider the impact they were having on other people’s lives.

“People are looking at you and being inspired by your performances but you probably don’t realise it,” McDaniel said.

“Keep being an inspiration for others and pass on the torch, don’t worry if some knock you down due to tall poppy syndrome.”

McDaniel said he was inspired by talking to Australian under-21 curling representative and June sports star winner Angus Young who was already focused on making the team for the 2018 Winter Olympics only a year after finishing school.

“I don’t know if I could have looked so far ahead at that age.

“Talking to Angus inspires me at my age (40).”

During his basketball career in the United States, McDaniel admired many of the legends of the game but has no hesitation in naming his father Everett S McDaniel as his hero.

“My father started with nothing, came from a poor town, had a speech impediment and was told at school he would only do manual work,” McDaniel said.

“He ended up a lieutenant colonel in the army and was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the University of Rhode Island for gridiron.

“My father was at every basketball game I played.”

At the dinner, the decision by winner and Warwick polocrosse player Cameron Shepherd to donate his $1000 to help injured sportsman Sinclair Byrne did not surprise McDaniel.

“By his mannerisms, Cameron looks like a very giving person. It didn’t surprise me, people in the country are salt of the earth,” he said.