It's fair to say that Bathurst's Tamsin Bunt has had a year to treasure.

Bunt collected the Hockey NSW Player of the Year award at Rydges Mount Panorama on Saturday night, giving her a chance to celebrate a breakthrough 2016 in front of many familiar faces.

"It's the first time I've won the award and it's a very big honour," she said.

"It was a big shock. Even just to be nominated was a privellage, but to win it was an amazing reward.

"I've had a really good year. I had a great AHL [Australian Hockey League] season and then I won the Loretta Dorman Medal, for best and fairest in Sydney Premier League Hockey."

Of course the best was yet to come for Bunt.

Bunt, a regular in the Australian national indoor hockey side, managed to earn her spot in the Hockeyroos side for their test series against India late last year.

That selection was a mixture of relief and joy for the Bathurst player.

"That was obviously the biggest achievement for me, to be able to play in those three tests against India," Bunt said.

"There's been a lot of hard work that's gone into that. I made the Hockeyroos squad a few years ago then had a serious knee injury. That was a difficult time but it's made the [latest] selection all the more rewarding."

Bunt also played a pivotal role in helping NSW to the Australian Indoor Hockey Championships title.

Saturday’s awards night at Mount Panorama was coupled with the Basil Sellars Challenge at Cooke Hockey Complex, which brought hundreds of juniors to the city.

Two-time Olympian and Hockeyroo Emily Smith emceed the event.

It made a massive weekend of hockey action in Bathurst, both on and off the field.

“They incorporated the awards night into the challenge, which helped bring hockey players and officials into the country,” Bunt said.

“To receive my award at Bathurst, where I grew up playing my junior hockey and learning the game, was very special.”

Bunt will hope to kick start a 2017 that’s equally memorable as last year when Sydney Premier League resumes this month.