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 $500 to $750, 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,” 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 |
Archer Bailey | Tewantin | Surf Life Saving | Australian Surf Lifesaving Competition |
Braxon Livesey | Tewantin | Touch Football | Queensland School Sport 10-12 years Touch Football State Championships |
Chillie McCarthy | Noosaville | Rowing | Aussies |
Cody Fitzpatrick | Southside | Hockey | U/15 National Hockey Championships |
Darcy Dinnage | Tewantin | Surf Life Saving | Aussie Titles Surf Life Saving Championship |
Dylan Wilson | Noosa Heads | Surf Life Saving | Australian SLS Championships |
Ellie Brice | Amamoor | Netball | Australian Netball Championships |
Emmersen McEwan | Noosa Heads | Water Polo | Australian Youth Water Polo Championships |
Harper McEwan | Noosa Heads | Water Polo | Australian Youth Water Polo Championships |
Joe Tolano | Marcus Beach | Surf Life Saving | Australian Youth Surf Lifesaving Championships |
Joseph Hodgson | Pie Creek | Hockey | Hockey Australia U15 Championships |
Josh Shanahan | Noosaville | Triathlon | World Duathlon Championships – Spain |
Lachlan Caple | Sunshine Beach | Water Polo | Australian Youth Water Polo Championships |
Lily Hamilton | Southside | Touch Football | State School Touch Championships |
Lottie Cooper | Noosaville | Rowing | Aussies – 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships |
Nicholas Peterson | Noosaville | Surf Life Saving | The Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships |
Philip Scougall | Island Plantation | Hockey | U15 National Hockey |
Pia Heffernan | Tewantin | Surf Life Saving | Aussies – 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships |
Rihanna Newman | Maryborough | Hockey | Under 15 Australian Hockey championships |
Rosita Ortega | Peregian Beach | Surf Life Saving | AUSSIES – 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships |
Tom Bergemenn | Glenwood | Volleyball | Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships |
William O’Connor | Sunrise Beach | Surf Life Saving | Australian Surf Life Saving Championships |
Zach Heffernan | Tewantin | Surf Life Saving | Aussies – 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships |
Zara Cross | Sunshine Beach | Surf Life Saving | Australian 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, with grant recipients selected by a local panel.
