For the first time in 60 years, Ballarat Sportsmen's Club is unable to crown Ballarat's Sportsperson of the Year due to the pandemic.

This is an award dominated by, but not exclusive to the city's rich Olympic and Paralympic talent in featuring champion names like Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne (2015) and prolific AFL goalkicker Tony Lockett (1987).

Instead, this year the gala event took time to reflect on the Ballarat's sporting history with Mark, Maher and Reese joining fellow Olympian and six-time Sportsperson of the Year Steve Moneghetti in a decorated panel on Wednesday night.

For Maher (née Gull) and Mark, who both live out of town, this was a rare chance to reconnect with the sporting community that had supported them from their junior careers to the international stage.

"I haven't seen a lot of these people back in Ballarat for a long time," Maher said. "This is about the heart and soul of Ballarat and this club has done a lot to help a lot of young kids and there's great recognition for Ballarat's sportspeople."

Maher's dad Jim Gull was an early member of the club and won Ballarat Sportsperson of the Year in 1961 as a Victorian Football League (South Melbourne) and highly-decorated Ballarat Football League player.

She followed in his footsteps, winning the 1979 honour, early in her basketball career in which Maher represented Australia at three Olympic Games, winning bronze in Atlanta in 1996.

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Much has changed since Maher was a junior shooting hoops in a little church courtyard - she visited Ballarat Sports and Events Centre last week.

Mark won Ballarat's junior sportsperson of the year in the same year Maher was awarded the title prize.

"I can honestly say I remember winning junior sportsperson of the year and feeling that was significant, let alone to be recognised and win the sportsperson of the year six times," Mark said, quipping it was tough in the "Mona era".

"Ballarat revolved around sport in a massive way. My time at Brown Hill Cricket Club and East Ballarat Football Club are what I remember just as much as Sebastopol Gun Club."

Reese, who won the honour twice (2006-07), said it was incredible to be in such great company at the event and on the honour roll.

"It's a great honour seeing all the great athletes Ballarat has produced," Reese said.

Ballarat Sportsmen's Club also officially launched a book marking 60 years of promoting, celebrating and supporting the city's sporting culture.

1960 Neil Titheridge (Golf)

1961 Jim Gull (Football)

1962 Lyn Gilbert (Table Tennis)

1963 Bob Wasley (Rifle Shooting)

1964 Ray Bilney (Cycling)

1965 Ray Bilney (Cycling)

1966 Tony Benson (Athletics)

1967 Lyn Gilbert (Table Tennis)

1968 Doug Armstrong (Cycling)

1969 Doug Armstrong (Cycling)

1970 Tony Benson (Athletics)

1971 Tony Benson (Athletics)

1972 Tony Benson (Athletics)

1973 Lorna Lucas (Bowls)

1974 Graham Crouch (Athletics)

1975 Graham Crouch (Athletics)

1976 Barry Packham (Karate)

1977 Willi Sawall (Athletics)

1978 Willi Sawall (Athletics)

1979 Robyn Gull (Basketball)

1980 John Stekelenburg (Water Skiing)

1981 Ray Rigby (Power Lifting)

1982 Willi Sawall (Athletics)

1983 Ray Rigby (Power Lifting)

1984 Gary Gullock (Rowing)

1985 Barry Packham (Karate)

1986 Stephen Moneghetti (Athletics)

1987 Tony Lockett (Football)

1988 Stephen Moneghetti (Athletics)

1989 Stephen Moneghetti (Athletics)

1990 Stephen Moneghetti (Athletics)

1991 Russell Mark (Trap Shooting)

1992 Russell Mark (Trap Shooting)

1993 Stephen Moneghetti (Athletics)

1994 Stephen Moneghetti (Athletics)

1995 Russell Mark (Trap Shooting)

1996 Russell Mark (Trap Shooting)

1997 Russell Mark (Trap Shooting)

1998 Russell Mark (Trap Shooting)

1999 Peter Blackburn (Badminton)

2000 Jodi Willis-Roberts (Shot Put & Discus)

2001 Emily Martin (Rowing)

2002 Stuart Brehaut (Badminton)

2003 Stuart Brehaut (Badminton)

2004 Anthony Edwards (Rowing) & Allison Tranquilli (Basketball)

2005 Emily Martin (Rowing)

2006 Shayne Reese (Swimming)

2007 Shayne Reese (Swimming)

2008 Jarred Tallent (Athletics)

2009 James Marburg (Rowing)

2010 Jarred Tallent (Athletics)

2011 Jarred Tallent (Athletics)

2012 Jarred Tallent (Athletics) & Greg Smith (Para-Athlete)

2013 Jarred Tallent (Athletics)

2014 Collis Birmingham (Athletics)

2015 Michelle Payne (Horse Racing)

2016 Jared Tallent (Athletic)

2017 Katrina Werry (Rowing)

2018 Kathryn Mitchell (Athletics)

2019 Katrina Werry (Rowing)