LLEW O’BRIEN CONGRATULATES WIDE BAY’S SPORTING CHAMPIONS

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien today 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 $550 to $1000 through the Australian Government’s Local Sporting Champions Program, 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 Program. 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 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: 

Name	Suburb	Sport	Competition
Hayleigh Kennedy	Antigua	Athletics	School National Athletics
Coco Cairns	Tewantin	Surfing	2022 Australian Junior Titles U18
Cooper Laycock	Veteran	Athletics	School Sport Australia 10-12yrs National Track and Field Championships
Damian Small	Chatsworth	Basketball	Queensland Basketball State Championship
Darcy Lewis	Sunrise Beach	Surf Life Saving	Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
Ernest Gawthorn	Doonan	Water Polo	Australian Youth Water Polo Championship
Georgie Moller	Tinana	Motor Sport	SKAA Australian Championships
Georgina McCabe	Gympie	Athletics	2022 Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships
Harley McKenzie	Oakhurst	Basketball	Queensland Basketball Under 18 State Championships
Hudson McArthur	Tamaree	Athletics	School Sport Australia 10-12Yrs National Championships
Jarrah Rober’t	Maryborough	BMX	Auscycling National BMX championships
Kellie Davies	Maryborough	Athletics	2022 Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships
Kiera Proctor	Veteran	Athletics	2022 Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships
Layden Shaw	St Helens	Basketball	BQ U18 State Championships
Lola Gibbs-Beal	Noosaville	Swimming	The Aussies
Luke Lewis	Sunrise Beach	Surf Life Saving	Australian Surf Life Saving Titles
Mailee Scott-Jones	Black Mountain	Athletics	Australian All School Championships
Matthew Town	Oakhurst	Basketball	Qld State Championship
Max Batkin	Granville	Basketball	U18 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.”
 
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is responsible for the management and coordination of the program. Applications for the grants can be made at any time, through the Australian Sports Commission’s website www.ausport.gov.au/champions.