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, national, and international competitions.
The young sportsmen and women will each receive a grant of between $500 to $750, 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 in this round:
Name | Suburb | Sport | Competition |
Zach Heffernan | Tewantin | Cross Country | School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships |
Tyler Kenny | Maryborough | Hockey | U18 Men’s Australian Hockey Championships |
Samuel Darbyshire | Tuchekoi | Sailing/Yachting | Eastern Seaboard Regatta- Thailand |
Mitchell Wilcox | Maryborough | Hockey | 2024 Hockey Australia Under 14 Championships Perth |
Mia Waite | Noosa Heads | Surfing | 2024 Australian Surf Championships |
Mia Nugent | Tinana | Hockey | Australian National Championship Outdoor Hockey U14G -Perth |
Mia Caple | Sunshine Beach | Cross Country | Cross Country National Championships |
Max Ketterer | Veteran | Mountain Bike | Auscycling National Enduro Championship |
Maci Ritchie | Marys Creek | Athletics | 10-12 yrs B & G SSA National Championships |
Lachlan Britten | Cooroy | Touch Football | National Youth Championship – Touch Australia |
Jarlan I’Anson | Southside | Touch Football | National Youth Championship – Touch Australia |
Jai Taylor | Peregian Beach | Surfing | IBC World Tour Maldives Pro |
Jackson Skinner | Peregian Beach | Futsal | 2025 National Futsal Championships |
Grace Collins | Cooroy | Equestrian | 2024 Marcus Oldham Australian Interschool Championships |
Cooper Fraser | Tamaree | Touch Football | National Youth Championship – Touch Australia |
Arianah Bazzan | Chatsworth | Equestrian | 2024 Australian Interschool 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. The next round of Local Sporting Champions program is open until 31 January 2025. For more information, please visit www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/local_sporting_champions