Anumber of young local sporting champions in Barker have received grants through the Federal Government’s “Local Sporting Champions Program” to support them in pursuing their sporting dreams.
Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP met some of the students last week in Mount Gambier to present them with certificates and congratulate them on their achievements.
Administered by the Australian Sports Commission, the Federal Government saw 23 students from the Limestone Coast region awarded with funding from the program this year to help these young talented sports people participate in state or national competitions.
Mr Pasin said the initiative awards successful individual applicants a minimum of $500 to assist with the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment.
“The Local Sporting Champions Program is available to young people, between the ages of 12 and 18 representing their State or Nation, travelling more than 250km return to compete,” he said.
“The program is a rolling application process and I encourage all sporting groups and individuals that meet the eligibility criteria to apply.”
The grant recipients were Kingston’s Hinako Holman to attend the 2022 Country Swimming Championships and Piper Stenner for the School Sport Australia Netball Championships.
Millicent’s Ashlee Dean received a grant to attend the 2022 Australian Under 14 Club Basketball Championships, as well as Kobe Gibson for the School Sport Australia National AFL Championships.
Robe’s Charles Moore was allocated a grant for the Country Swimming Championships, with Stewart Range’s Corrie Taylor receiving support for the 2022 Australian Under 13 Hockey Championships.
Mount Gambier young athletes Indee Stratford, Vaughn Stratford and Lucy Dening received a grant for the 2022 Country Swimming Championships, along with Suttontown’s Jessica Oxlade.
Fellow Mount Gambier athletes Jessica and Austin Holman were supported towards their 2022 Australian Disc Golf Championships endeavours, Jacob Salmon for the School Sport Australia National AFL Championships as well as Leila Croker for the 2022 Australian National Track and Field Championships.
Thornlea’s Emily Lambert and Thomas Lambert received grants for the Australian Junior Motocross National Titles, with other grant recipients Sebastopol’s William Wimshurst for the U16 Australian Basketball Junior Championships 2022, Port MacDonnell’s Zeb Chant for the National Youth Under 16 Baseball Championships, Naracoorte’s Aryan Madan for the Australian Junior Squash Championships, Oscar Marr McGuire for the Australian Under 16 Junior Basketball Championships, Kalangadoo’s Jack Sharman for the School Sport Australia Hockey Championships, Bordertown’s Mia Richards for the 2022 Australian Under 14 Club Basketball Championships and Penola’s Harrison De Garis for the Australian U14 Club Championship Basketball Tournament.
