Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Federal government's Local Sporting Champions program provides some financial assistance to students aged between 12 and 18 to participate in state, national and international championships. I was pleased to host the Central Coast sporting champions afternoon tea at my electorate office earlier this month to recognise the successful grant applicants from the most recent round of the program.

Every time that I meet with these outstanding junior sports men and women, I am amazed at the level of dedication and the number of hours that they put into their chosen sport as well as the sacrifices that their families make to take their child to sporting events across the state, across the country and, in one instance this time, on the other side of the world. I would like to take some time to congratulate each of the students who received a grant and recognise the many hours they have put in to compete at the level they do today.

Kaylah from St Joseph's Catholic College represented Australia over at the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving on the other side of the world, in the UK. She is an amazing young lifesaver who will also be representing New South Wales in New Zealand and Perth over the coming months.

Makayla from Erina High School received a grant to travel to the Australian Goalball National Championships in October. As a student with vision impairment, Makayla shared with me the challenges that she has faced in competing in her sport and how the sport has helped her meet people who can relate to her disability.

Lachlan and Jeremy from Narara Valley High School are touch football players. Both received grants to represent NSW at the National Youth Championships on the Sunshine Coast.

Tane from Brisbane Water Secondary College travelled to Coffs Harbor to play soccer at the FFA National Youth Championships for Boys. He wants to one day be a role model for Indigenous Australians like himself.

Taylee from Erina High School competed in gymnastics at the National Clubs Gymnastics Carnival in September. She has her eyes set upon being selected for the 2023 world gymnastics championships in Amsterdam.

Nicole from Kariong Mountains High School will be attending the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast. The travel grant will assist her parents in attending the competition next year.

Seth from Central Coast Adventist School will this week be playing basketball at the Australian Schools Championship in Victoria. As a leader in his basketball team, he hopes to use the experience to guide local basketball players and lead by example.

Sienna from St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School attended the School Sport Australia Track and Field Championship in September. She is representing New South Wales at athletics for the first time.

Hanna from Narara Valley High School and Katie from Henry Kendall High School will both be travelling to Western Australia next week to compete at Athletics Australia's Australian All Schools Championships.

Finally, Nick and Daniel from St Edwards College; Cameron and Sophie from Kincumber High School; and Chloe from Central Coast Adventist School all received grant funding for their respective sports, where they will be travelling or have already travelled interstate to compete at a national level.

I wish these very talented students all the very best in their future sporting endeavours and look forward to watching them as they progress in their sporting and professional careers.

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