She received the 2019 award at a presentation dinner at Ballarat Golf Club on Thursday night - two years after first being honoured by the Sportsmen's Association of Australian Ballarat associates' branch.

Werry had another stunning year on the water.

The former Ballarat Clarendon College student was part of the Australian women's four to take out a world championship in Austria in August-September.

This qualified the boat for this year's Tokyo Olympic Games.

Werry was also a gold medallist in the four at World Cup 3 in the Netherlands and bronze medallist in the four in World Cup 2 in Poland in the lead up to the world championships.

On the home front early in the year, the 26-year-old claimed bronze in a pair at the nationals and silver as part of the Victorian eight in the Queen's Cup.

Unfortunately, Werry was unable to attend the awards night owing to training commitments with the national squad.

Her mother Mary Werry accepted the trophy on her behalf.

"She was very excited and very humbled and honoured that she's won," Mary said.

"From her perspective, she's just Katrina and she doesn't see herself in an exceptional light."

Werry completed Olympic trials at the Hancock Prospecting Women's National Training Centre in Penrith last week.

Mary confirmed her daughter had made the Olympic squad, but was yet to know what boat she'll compete in.

She said it was exciting news for her family.

"It is good news considering she didn't have the best of starts going into the trials," Mary said.

"She was sporting an injury and there were days where she couldn't train as much as she would've liked leading in.

"But she's back into full training and is feeling optimistic."

Werry was named in the women's sweep squad for this year's World Rowing Cup 2 set to be held in Italy in May, but the event was cancelled on Thursday due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

It remains to be seen whether the outbreak will have any impact on the Olympic Games, however Rowing Australia confirmed it would continue to monitor the situation closely.

Despite the uncertainly, Mary said her daughter had not let virus disrupt her training.

"They know they can't control anything in regards to the virus, all they can control are their own actions and thinking, and they and determined to succeed," she said.

Werry was one of four finalists with tennis player Zoe Hives, racewalker Jemma Peart and para sailor Alison Weatherly.

Champion yachtswoman Adrienne Cahalan was the guest speaker at the dinner.

She sailed in her 28th Sydney to Hobart last year - the most by any female - in her usual role of navigator.

Cahalan is professional yacht racer and last year received Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sailing and was inducted into the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame.