Local Sporting Champions recognised, Crook

Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 09-September-2011

Six young athletes from across O’Connor have shared in grants totalling $3000 as part of the Local Sporting Champions program.

The program is a Federal Government initiative providing financial assistance for junior sportspeople towards the cost of travel and equipment for national and state events.

Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook established a panel made up of community sports representatives from throughout the electorate to oversee the Local Sporting Champions program.

The panel has selected six recipients for the latest round of funding, covering a diverse range of sports including surf life saving, netball, body boarding, hockey and gymnastics.

Individual applicants each received grants of $500 to go towards travel and equipment costs when competing away from home.

A spokesperson for the O’Connor Local Sporting Champions panel, Mechelle McArthur, said the Local Sporting Champions program offered a great opportunity for young athletes.

“We have some terrific young athletes in regional areas.  These grants help them take their skills to a much higher level and compete at state and national events,” Ms McArthur said.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity which allows them to take on new challenges, learn new skills, and make new friends along the way.”

Mr Crook was pleased to announce the successful applicants for O’Connor.

“Coming from a regional sporting background myself, I recognise that there are limited opportunities for young people in the regions to take their sporting activities to a higher level,” Mr Crook said.

“I’m very pleased to see this funding going towards developing our sporting champions of the future.”

The O’Connor Local Sporting Champions panel has assisted a total of 22 individuals and one team with grants as part of the 2010-11 funding cycle.

Applications for the next round of funding are now open and will close October 31 2011.

For more information visit www.tonycrook.com.au.

The successful applicants for Round 3 of the Local Sporting Champions grants in O’Connor are:

• Tarquin Dunn (Body Boarding) Esperance
• Toby Ross (Body Boarding) Esperance
• Olivia Morris (Surf Life Saving) Esperance
• Amanda Butcher (Hockey) Esperance
• Bryce Mitchell (Gymnastics) Narrogin
• Ashleigh Haydock (Netball) Seppings     

See this article on the member's website