The trio received the accolades in front of a school assembly as well as special guests Butch Hays and the mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore.

The major gong, Sport Star of the Year award, went to Etheridge for his all-round prowess in 2011.

The year 9 student has been involved in athletics, basketball, cross country, football, golf and table tennis during the last 12 months at the school.

This included state basketball finals, the NSW Combined High Schools Cross Country Championships, finalist in the 400 and 800 metre events at the NSW CHS athletics trials, captaining the school’s Bill Turner Cup campaign (football) and making the top 16 in the state table tennis knockout.

“It was a very hard decision across the board but in the end, Tom was the standout,” Maitland High School sports co-ordinator John Lawson said.

“He was just involved in everything and made the state last 16 in basketball and table tennis.”

Gulliver, also of year 9, picked up the Proctor Family Scholarship Trophy for excellence in sport while maintaining academic studies.

The 14-year-old golfer, who has been excellent for the school around the greens in 2011, followed in the footsteps of brother Nicholas, who won the same award two years earlier.

Dixon, 16, was acknowledged with the Indigenous Sports Star of the Year award for the second

consecutive year.

Dixon, one of 12 children in his family, was involved in rugby league, basketball, touch football and

volleyball for Maitland High School in 2011.

Lawson said Hays was a “sensational” guest speaker and there were plenty of support from the Old Boys and Ex-Students Union (OBESU) there as well.