Grants success for 43 Wide Bay sporting champions

August 6, 2021

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien today congratulated 43 Wide Bay sports stars who will receive grants to help them participate in state and national competitions.

“Sports are an integral part of life in Wide Bay communities, and I am pleased that so many of our outstanding young sportsmen and women are receiving this support through the latest round of the Local Sporting Champions program,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Our junior sportspeople participate in a diverse range of sports, they come from every community, and despite the current challenges of COVID-19, they are all dedicated to their training so they can achieve their sporting goals.

“Participating in these events can be quite expensive, especially where long-distance travel or inter-state quarantine is required, so this funding will help to ease that pressure on local families, ensure our sporting champions can represent Wide Bay with pride, and progress in their chosen sport.”

The grants of between $550 and $750 will be provided through the Liberal and Nationals Government’s Local Sporting Champions grants program which supports young sportsmen and women between the ages of 12 and 18, to help meet the costs of participating in sporting events, including travel, equipment, uniforms and accommodation. 

The following athletes have been successful:

Applicant Suburb Sport Competition
Ella Reynolds Sunrise Beach Swimming 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships
Rylee Gralike Curra Rugby Union Queensland State Championship
Kilian Carrel Noosa Heads Swimming 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships
Tane Bentley Cooloola Cove Rugby Union Queenland Championships
Alana Castle Sunrise Beach Weightlifting Australian Weightlifting Federation Youth & U15 National Championships
Jayah MacDonald Gympie Football (Soccer) Wide Bay School Sport 2021 State Championship
Taj Marsh Sunrise Beach Weightlifting Australian Weightlifting Federation Youth & U15 National Championships
Kaiya Marsh Sunrise Beach Weightlifting Australian Weightlifting Federation Youth & U15 National Championships
Amelia Chambers Gympie Rugby Union State Championships Queensland
Dalton Morrison Maryborough Volleyball Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships
Molly Byrne Gympie Rugby Union Wide Bay School Sport 2021 State Championship
Nicholas Butler Gympie Rugby Union Queensland State Carnival
Connor Innis Tamaree Hockey Queensland School Sports Hockey Championships
Kirralee Mcculloch Tinana Hockey Queensland State School Championships
Ethan Brown Veteran Rugby Union Wide Bay School Sport State Championship
Benjamin Redmond Maryborough Hockey Queensland School Sports Hockey Championships
Ava O’Connell Tinana Football (Soccer) Queensland School Sport Football Championships
Bailey Avnell Gympie Volleyball Queensland School Sport State Championship – Volleyball
Jett O’Brien Gympie Hockey Queensland School Sports Hockey Championships
Tom Bergemann Glenwood Volleyball Queensland School Sport State Championship – Volleyball
Shakira Heidenreich Maryborough Football (Soccer) Queensland School Sport Football Championships
Jordyn Edwards Maryborough Volleyball Queensland School Sport State Championship – Volleyball
Joshua Wilton Gympie Touch Football Queensland School Sport Touch Football Championships
Philip Scougall Island Plantation Hockey Queensland U13 Hockey Championships
Telecia Tame Curra Volleyball 16 – 19 Open Volleyball State Championship
Sophie Lusk Maryborough West Football (Soccer) Queensland School Sport State Championship – Football
Mitchell Peterson Noosaville Surfing Queensland State Sport Surfing Championships
William Peterson Noosaville Surfing Queensland School Sport Surfing State Championship
Lachlan Britten Cooroy Touch Football Queensland School Sport State Championship
Jaime Carberry Sunrise Beach Athletics Queensland School Sport State Championship – Cross Country
Jakkris Mankaew Canina Hockey Junior State Championships
Landen Smales Peregian Beach Surfing Australian Surf Championships
Kaiden Smales Peregian Beach Surfing Australian Surf Championships
Bodhi Meyers Sunshine Beach Basketball Queensland Under 14 Boys State Championships
Frederick Back Federal Rugby Union State Championships
Hamish Chart Cooroibah Water Polo 14U Inter State Challenge
Toby Brewer Tinana Hockey Junior State Championships
Smith Connors Marcus Beach Water Polo Water Polo U15 National Championships
Hunter Murdoch Oakhurst Basketball Queensland School Sport State Championship – Basketball
Ava Guthrie Peregian Beach Water Polo 14 years Australian Waterpolo Nationals
Emma Duffey Gympie Pony Club PCAQ State Dressage, Combined Training and Horse Trials Championships
Lily Fraser Maryborough Tennis Queensland School Sport State Championship Tennis 10-12 Years
Luke Helmstedt Granville Hockey Junior 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 each applicants demonstrated,” Mr O’Brien said.

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 www.ausport.gov.au/champions.

For further information please contact Mr O’Brien’s office on 1300 301 968. 

WELCOME TO WIDE BAY

In the spirit of Australia, I acknowledge all citizens who contribute to making our nation the greatest on earth.

I acknowledge our defence force personnel, past, present, and emerging, for their service to our nation, and particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Australia.

I also acknowledge the Australian taxpayers who, through their hard work, pay for the infrastructure, health, education, and emergency services that keep our proud nation healthy, safe, and prosperous.