Federal Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien has congratulated local sports stars who will receive grants to help them participate in state and national competitions.
The young sportsmen and women will each receive a grant of between $500 to $750 through the Australian Government’s Local Sporting Champions and Local Para Champions programs, which supports participants aged 12 to 24 to help meet the costs of participating in sporting events, including travel, equipment, uniforms and accommodation.
With the help of the grants, Alana Castle of Noosaville will be heading to the Australian Youth and U15 National Championships for weightlifting while Kaiden Smales of Noosa Heads will be on his way to the Australian Surf Championships.
“I congratulate these young athletes on their success in the latest round of the Local Sporting Champions and the Local Para Champions program,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Wide Bay has a strong track record in producing skilled and successful sport champions, and these sporting champions deserve to be congratulated and encouraged on their sporting journey.
“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 to ease that pressure on local families, and help our young athletes achieve their sporting goals.
“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 Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is responsible for the management and coordination of the program, with grant recipients selected by a local panel. Applications for the grants can be made at any time, through the Australian Sports Commission’s website at ausport.gov.au/champions
