The Order of Merit is presented to individuals who have achieved remarkable feats in the sporting world, either through personal achievement or contribution to the development of sport.

Hadfield receives the award having dedicated much of his life to his sport of decathlon and the Olympic Movement for four decades.

In addition, Hadfield was President of the NSW Olympians Club from 2005 to 2017, a member of the NSWOC Executive during that 13-year period and a media commentator for seven Olympic Games.

The two-time Olympian described it is a wonderful honour to have been recognised by the NSWOC for an Order of Merit.

"My dream as a teenager was to represent Australia at an Olympic Games, which I was able to achieve on two occasions in 1980 and 1984," he said.

"I have been most privileged to have covered seven Olympics for the Australian media but more importantly I have been delighted to have been able to spread the ideals of Olympism to young Australians.

"I would like to recognise the support of my wife Marilyn and my three children Paul, Mark and Casey over these many years."

Kerr is best known for his contribution to national and international water polo as a player, coach, technical official and administrator.

As well as chairing a number of sporting appeal tribunals, he has also been a respected member of the International Swimming Federation Doping Panel since 2000 and was given the honour of presenting the judges’ oath at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympics Games in Sydney. 

"I am very honoured to receive this award," Kerr said.

"I have been involved in the Olympic Movement for much of my life and to receive such recognition from the NSW Olympic Council is truly humbling.

"I hope that the Australian Olympic Committee and its State Councils continue to build a movement within our country that supports our athletes and sports to the highest level, that is something we can all be proud of."

Kerr and Hadfield join a group of 37 awardees who have been recognised by the NSWOC, who are affiliated to the Australian Olympic Committee. 

NSWOC President Helen Brownlee claimed that both were outstanding candidates for the award in 2018.

"Both awardees are worthy recipients and come from an impressive background of high level sport participation - Peter Hadfield in decathlon and Peter Kerr in water polo - as well as providing ongoing support for the activities of the NSW Olympic Council through education and fundraising programmes," she said.

Nominations for the Order of Merit are received from the NSWOC Executive and member sports, with no more than two awards given in any one year.

The AGM also saw 10 junior athletes awarded NSWOC grants.

The grant, designed to provide financial support, was awarded to under-18 NSW athletes participating in Olympic sports.

This year’s awardees came from the sports of athletics, equestrian, fencing, figure skating, football, hockey, short track speed skating, softball, triathlon and water polo.

Brownlee presented the AUD$1,500 (£815/$1,150/€940) grants and said that by supporting up and coming athletes, the NSWOC is making an investment in Australia's future.

"We have intentionally targeted those young people who have demonstrated a commitment to their sport but have not received any financial assistance from other sources," she said.

"It is pleasing to see the difference these encouragement grants have made to these young people and we acknowledge their success in subsequent competitions at national and international levels."

The athletes will use the grants for travel and accommodation expenses in conjunction with national and international competition, including entry fees, competition uniforms and the opportunity to upgrade equipment essential to their sport.

The awardees were Charlotte McGill, Madeline Sinderberry, Katherine Wang, Amelie Tabor, Annalee Grove, Miles Davis, Kieran Guan, Jenna Trim, Ella Wooldridge and Matthew Humby.

They were required to demonstrate behaviour consistent with the fundamental Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence.

On hand during the evening to give advice to the grant recipients was Olympic silver medallist Jarryd Hughes.

He finished runner-up in the men’s snowboard cross event at Pyeongchang 2018. 

"It was an absolute privilege to tell my story of resilience and the power of self-belief with a bunch of up and coming athletes,"Hughes said.

"I hope the athletes that were awarded grants through the NSW Olympic Council are able to use the support to better themselves, promote their sports and most importantly be a part of the Olympic Movement."

This year marks the fifth year that the NSWOC junior grant has been awarded, with the programme beginning in 2014.

More than 500 applications were received for 2018.