Local sports stars participating in state and national competitions will receive grants to help them meet costs.
The young sportsmen and women will each receive a grant of between $500 to $850, 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.
“I congratulate these young athletes on their success in the latest round of the Local Sporting Champions and the Local Para Champions program. 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,” Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien said.
“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.”
The following athletes have been successful in obtaining a grant for specific competitions:
Athlete Eli Melinz of Cooroibah (Australian Junior Track and Field Championships 2023), water polo players Ernest Gawthorn of Doonan (New Zealand 18 and Under National Water Polo Championship), Smith Connors of Marcus Beach (Water Polo Australia 18 and Under Mens Tour and Test Series), Harper McEwan of Noosa Heads (U13 National Development Carnival), Fynnian Norris of Noosaville (Water Polo Australia National Age Championships), Tallow Crouch of Peregian Beach (U13 National Development Carnival), surfers Mia Waite of Noosa Heads (Australian Surf Championships), Landen Smales of Noosa Heads (Australian Surf Championships), Lennix Currie of Tewantin (Australian Surf Championships), Surf Life Savers Niamh Arthur of Noosa Heads (QLD Pool Rescue State Championships), Oliver Dillewaard of Sunrise Beach (Australian Youth Surf Lifesaving Championships), Ava Gooderham of Sunrise Beach (QLD Pool Rescue Championships), Xavier Dillewaard of Sunrise Beach (Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships), Wilfred Harvey of Peregian Beach for Aircraft Sport (FAI World Drone Racing Championships), Carter Coram of Peregian Beach for Football (Soccer) (Queensland School Sport State Championship) and Charlie Harmer of Sunrise Beach for Rugby Union (Queensland School 14-15 Years Rugby Union State Championships).
“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,” he said.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is responsible for the management and coordination of the program. For more information, please visit sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/local_sporting_champions
