25 March 2015

FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, has congratulated 12 high school students from across the New England Electorate who are successful recipients of grants under the Local Sporting Champions program, which is administered by the Australian Sports Commission.

The successful recipients, who have received $500 each, include six students from Tamworth, two from Armidale and individuals from Delungra, Nemingha, Manilla and Garthowen.

Jessica Aldridge, Garthowen, Samuel Ellicott, Tamworth, River Melia, Delungra and Nick Price, Nemingha received their grants for their representative honours in athletics, while representative hockey players Mitchell Lewin and Noah Pitt, both from Tamworth, joined cyclists Jessica and Tori Saunders, also from Tamworth, in receiving grants.

Representative basketballer Makuach Malusch and netballer Charlotte Raleigh, both from Armidale, Manilla basketballer Taylor Skelton and Tamworth baseballer Brock Ridgewell are also recipients of the grant.

Mr Joyce said the Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for young people aged 12 to18 years, towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing, coaching or officiating at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state, national or international sporting championships or a School Sport Australia state or national championships.

He said young people find it difficult to meet the ongoing and significant costs associated with participation at sporting competitions, particularly those from regional areas.

Mr Joyce invited other young athletes who wish to apply for a Local Sporting Champions program grant to visit https://online.ausport.gov.au/lsc/apply/individual.aspx for more information.