More than two dozen promising young athletes from the Noosa and Gympie regions will receive a financial boost to help them compete at elite sporting events across Australia and overseas.
Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien congratulated the successful recipients of the Australian Government’s Local Sporting Champions program, with each athlete receiving between $500 and $750 to help cover costs such as travel, accommodation, uniforms and equipment. The program supports competitors aged 12 to 24 as they take part in state, national and international championships.
“I congratulate these young athletes on their success in the latest round of the Local Sporting Champions program,” Mr O’Brien said. “Wide Bay has a strong track record in producing skilled and successful athletes, and these sporting champions deserve to be congratulated and encouraged on their sporting journey.”
Mr O’Brien said the grants would help ease financial pressure on families supporting their children’s sporting aspirations. “The cost of representing Wide Bay at state or national titles can be quite high, especially when long-distance travel and accommodation is required, so this funding will help our young athletes achieve their sporting goals.”
Athletes from a wide range of codes – including surfing, triathlon, athletics, hockey, cycling, boxing, rugby league, touch football, netball, eight ball and water polo – were successful in this round. Local recipients include:
Darcy Dwyer (Cooroibah) – Australian Junior Surfing Titles
Emmersen McEwan and Fynnian Norris (Noosaville) – 2025 National State Championships, Water Polo
Georgi Seels-Wood (Peregian Beach) – Australian Athletics Cross Country 2025
Jaime Carberry (Sunrise Beach) – 2025 Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships
Madison Rae and Preston Rae (Noosa Heads) – World Triathlon Championships
Miller-May Berg (Peregian Beach) – 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles
Mitchell Peterson (Noosaville) – ISA World Junior Surfing Championships
Sophia Guthrie (Peregian Beach) – Australian 12/U Netball Championships
Tallow Crouch (Peregian Beach) – School Sport Australia Swimming Championships
Zach Heffernan (Tewantin) – Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships
They join a broader list of regional athletes competing in national events across boxing, softball, volleyball, rugby league and touch football.
Mr O’Brien said the depth of talent in the region continues to impress. “There were many applications for the Local Sporting Champions Program and only limited grants are available, but I am really impressed by the depth of talent, the level of commitment, and the ambition and pursuit of excellence that the applicants demonstrated.”
The Local Sporting Champions program is administered by the Australian Sports Commission. The next round is open until 31 January 2026. More information is available via the Sport Australia website.
