FOUR of Ballarat’s biggest sporting identities joined the prestigious Ballarat Sports Hall of Fame last night.Olympic gold medallist swimmer Shayne Reese, star VFL/AFL football coach John Northey and rowing figures Emily Martin and Eric Waller were all inducted into the esteemed Hall of Fame books.It was the first induction for five years, with the gala ceremony held at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts.Hall of Fame patron and founding member Steve Moneghetti presented the awards.Reese and Martin became members for their performances at the elite level, while Northey and Waller are associates.The two women join the likes of Steve Moneghetti, Tony Lockett, Russell Mark and Danny Frawley as members – an honour list that has now reached 30.As for the associates, the list now stands at 14, with Northey and Waller awarded the same prestige as names such as Mick Malthouse, Rex Hollioake and Keith Bray before them.Addressing the crowd last night, Northey said it was an award that belonged to the entire football community, not just himself.Northey coached 315 VFL/AFL games, including two night premierships at Melbourne.He was also presented with a special plaque commemorating every coach to have ever coached Melbourne by the Ballarat Demons supporters group.“Without Ballarat there is no way known I would have ever coached in the AFL,” he said, while recalling how he got his first coaching role at the Sydney Swans.Waller, Ballarat’s enduring rowing icon, said he was proud of how Ballarat had become so well known for rowing and now looked forward to the city returning to the international rowing spotlight in the coming years.“I’m really accepting this award on behalf of what I call the Ballarat rowing family,” he said.All inductees said Ballarat would always hold a special place in their heart, with Martin reflecting on her introduction to rowing at Ballarat Grammar and Reese looking forward to bright times ahead with the development of her swimming school.The Hall of Fame was launched in 1996, when the first inductions took place.Inductees have been added in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2002.