Anthony Byrne (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On Wednesday 9 October I hosted the 2019 Holt Local Sporting Champions grant presentation at the Arthur Wren Hall at Hampton Park. I was very proud to present 12 young sporting champions with an award for their sporting achievements. I especially thank the parents and grandparents who attended and who offer so much support to these young stars. The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for competitors aged 12 to 18 participating in state, national or international sporting championships. These 12 exceptional young athletes were recognised at the ceremony. As well as receiving grant amounts of between $500 and $700, the recipients received a framed certificate.

I would just like to put their names into the parliamentary record: Aedan Nelson, for tennis; Riley Simmons, for basketball; Blake Shankland, for swimming; Mia Foster, for swimming; Shahd Mohamed, for athletics; Wadah Abdelrahim, for athletics; Zoe Nitsiopoulos, for gymnastics; Andy Tapatuetoa; for rugby league; Baylin Dixon, for karate; Katelyn Faifili-Boon, for rugby league; Alannah Gillespie, for basketball; and Jemma Reynolds, for basketball. This program allowed, for example, Blake Shankland, from the Casey Cavaliers, to compete for Victoria at the under 18 junior championships and Shahd Mohamed from the Frankston Athletic Club to compete in the athletics Australian all schools championships. It's a great program that provides opportunity for young people to achieve their dreams in athletics and other sports.

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