Forrest joined the award's honour roll at the 44^th presentation of the Sportsmen's Association of Australia Ballarat associates' branch sportswoman of the year dinner on Thursday night.

Forrest took out three titles at the Oceania championships in New Caledonia mid-last year.

She was a gold medallist in the women's compound bow division – awarded to the highest score from all age brackets - intermediate women's compound bow and cadet under-18 women's compound bow.

A Phoenix P-12 Community College student, Forrest earned national selection after a highly successful Archery Australia Youth National Championships campaign. She claimed three gold and three silver medals in the event at Morwell.

Forrest, 15, said she had taken up archery by chance.

She said she had given it a try after driving past the Wendouree club and continued with the sport after doing well.

Racewalking sisters Jemma and Alanna Peart and Shannyn Bourke (taekwondo) were also finalists.

Forrest received the SAA accolade in the presence of inaugural Ballarat sportsgirl of the year Robyn Maher (nee Gull).

Gull won the award in 1975 and went on to be the 1978 and 1979 Ballarat Sportswoman of the Year and Australian legendary basketballer. 

Maher is a three-time Olympian with the Australian Opals.

She collected bronze with the Opals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 1998 world championships.

The Ballarat sporting great is married to champion basketball coach Tom Maher, who coached the Opals to six Olympics and has an unprecedented record in the WNBL.

The Mahers were guest speakers at the awards night at St Patrick's College.

EQUESTRIAN rider Mikayla Hogg received the Blackbourn Encouragement Award, which dates back to 1997.

Competing in Russia was the highlight of 2018 for the youngster.

From Berringa, she represented Australia in the Russian Friendship Games, producing a second, third and fifth in jumps events with a Russian partner.

Hogg also had podium finishes at state and national levels.