Young Local Sporting Champions recognised

13-December-2011

Federal Member for Aston, Alan Tudge MP, has presented Local Sporting Champions Grants of up to $500 to young people throughout Knox who have participated in state and national sporting championships.

At a presentation and afternoon tea, Mr Tudge said that the Local Sporting Champions program recognises the individual efforts and the achievements of young people in the electorate of Aston, who have excelled in sport and have been chosen from a large field of candidates, to represent their team at state and national sport championships throughout Australia.

Mr Tudge said, “It is a great achievement to have been chosen to compete at this level and I commend each recipient of this award for their dedication and commitment in their chosen field”.

“To compete at state and national levels takes a lot of work and no doubt, you each juggle study commitments, time with friends and family, and you also manage to maintain a schedule that enables you to train and compete. It is an enormous achievement and you deserve to feel very proud,” Mr Tudge said.

“The grants go some way towards the cost of being involved in their state or national sporting activity”.

Mr Tudge presented the Local Sporting Champions with their cheque and a certificate to the following people who participated in the events listed.

• Sarah Beales (National Under 17s Softball Tournament, Hobart)
• Scott Brooks (2011 Mens Artistic Gymnastics Australian Championships, Canberra)
• Kirsty Brooks (2011 Womens Gymnastics Australian Championships, Perth)
• Meaghan Grah (Softball Victoria Under 17 State Championships, Hobart)
• Samantha Donald (Australian Schools Nationals, Basketball, Canberra)
• Jayden Hawkes 2011 School Sport Australia Tournament, Touch Football, Coffs Harbour)
• Brayden James (2011 National Championships Mens Gymnastics, Canberra)
• Griffin James (2011 National Championships Mens Gymnastics, Canberra)
• Lachlan Mackay (2011 National Championships and Australian Open, Taekwondo, Canberra)
• Kieren McKeogh (School Sport Australia, Under 16 Volleyball Championships 2011, Mandurah)
• Nathan Pendergast (School Sports Victoria 800 metre event, Darwin)
• Kyle Swan (2011 Australian Road Walking Championships, Canberra)
• Mikala Viney (National Under 14 Girls National Basketball Championships, Darwin)
• Ben Wheeler (Victorian Rugby Union Under 16 National Championships, Sydney)

The Local Sporting Champions program is available to young people between the ages of 12-18 years, who participate and national and state level competition as an athlete, coach, umpire or referee. $500 is given to each recipient to assist them with the costs associated with competing at events where they are required to travel over 250km to attend.

For information about the Local Sporting Champions grants program, contact Alan on (03) 9887 3890.