LLEW O’BRIEN CONGRATULATES WIDE BAY’S SPORTING CHAMPIONS
- 8 September, 2025
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:
Applicant Name | Suburb | Competition Name | Sport |
Caitlin Mellor | Kybong | 2025 Australian Age and MC Age Championships | Swimming |
Loghan Roberts | Tamaree | 2025 QRSS Rugby League State Championships | Rugby League |
Kyra Crick | Maryborough | National U18 Hockey Championships | Hockey |
Olivia Guthrie | Peregian Beach | 13-15 Yrs School Sport National Netball Championship | Netball |
Millie Steele | Tewantin | U14 State Basketball Championships | Basketball |
Ruby Ladd-Hudson | Sunrise Beach | “Mid-Winter Classic” 13&U National Development Carnival | Water Polo |
Percy Schulz | Granville | School Sport Australia National Hockey Championships 15 Yrs and Under | Hockey |
Mitchell Wilcox | Maryborough | 2025 Hockey Australia U16 Championships | Hockey |
Olive Mills | Kin Kin | 2025 Under 14 Girls State Championships | Basketball |
Jackson Skinner | Peregian Beach | 2025 Emerging Socceroos Championships | Football (Soccer) |
Caitlin Killian | East Deep Creek | Queensland State School Australian Football 16-18yrs | Australian Football |
Nina Caple | Sunshine Beach | World Triathlon Multisport Championships | Triathlon |
Macey Hulcombe | Pomona | QLD SSA 13-15yrs National AFL Championships | Australian Football |
Trent Sellin | Murgon | Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League 14-15yrs Boys National Championships | Rugby League |
Lily Cook | Sunrise Beach | SSA 13-15 years National AFL Championships 2025 | Australian Football |
Connor McClellan | Doonan | 2025 Australian Age and MC Age Championships | Swimming |
Jett Young | Amamoor | SSA National Championships | Netball |
Toby Brewer | Tinana | 2025 Hockey Australia Boys U16 Championships | Hockey |
Noah Fox | Veteran | 2025 National Australian Age Championships | Swimming |
Samuel Thompson | Sunrise Beach | 13&U National Development Carnival | Water Polo |
Cody Fitzpatrick | Southside | U/18 HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS | Hockey |
Diba Mostofizadeh | Pie Creek | 51st Karate Australia National Championships | Karate |
Damine Mostofizadeh | Pie Creek | 51st Karate Australia National Championships | Karate |
Zachariah Belford | Curra | 2025 Adelaide AKF National Karate Championships | Karate |
William Alford | Amamoor Creek | Queensland Representative Australian Football Championships 2025 | Australian Football |
Sophia Dickson | Tewantin | AKF National Championships | Karate |
Mason Phillips | Glenwood | Australian Enduro Championships | Motorcycling |
Samuel Darbyshire | Tuchekoi | Singapore National Sailing Championships | Sailing/Yachting |
Kassie Pontifex | The Palms | 2025 Australian Interschool Championships | Equestrian |
Alba Barnes | Pomona | School Sport Australia National Swimming Championships 10-12 years | Swimming |
Mia Waite | Noosa Heads | 2025 Australian Surf Championships | Surfing |
Poppy Wright | Noosaville | Thermos Australian Longboard Championships | Surfing |
“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 October 2025. For more information, please visit the Local Sporting Champions website.
