Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was delighted to recently host an awards ceremony for local sporting champions in Newcastle. It was such a pleasure to meet with these young athletes and their parents, coaches and supporters. These grants, under the auspices of the Australian Sports Commission, go a long way to help families ensure their child can continue to play the sport they love.

I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of these young athletes, like Joseph Lyons, Jacob Haywood and Jack Matheson, who all played water polo for the Hunter Hurricanes and represented the region at the national championships; Chloe Blake, who played PSSA basketball and hopes one day to play for Australia; netballer Cassidy Fleming, who represented Newcastle at the state age championships; Hunter Ellen, who plays ice hockey and represented Australia at the Peewee championships in Canada; Jamie Byrne, who competed in the New South Wales athletics championships; Isaac Hayes, who represented Australia at the world junior and cadet fencing championships; swimmer Evelynne New, who competed in the Georgina Hope Swimmers Foundation Australia and the MC Age championships; and Kaman Bol and Makoi Makuer, who both represented St Francis Xavier's College in Hamilton in basketball at the Australian Schools Championships. These young athletes have all excelled at the sport they love, and I wish them all the very best for their future.