Financial boost for sporting champions from around the region

Page MP Kevin Hogan presented the local teenagers with a certificate in recognition of their achievements and confirmed their grants from the Local Sporting Champions program on January 22.

Eighteen kids were selected in this round with some unable to attend on the day.

Grants between $550 and $750 will help the recipients attend regional, state and national competitions or pay for uniforms and other expenses along the way.

Sports this round included baseball, netball, swimming, water polo as well as an aspiring rugby union referee.

"Those who received the Awards have excelled themselves representing our community at Regional, State, National and even International events in their chosen sport" Mr Hogan said.

"The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance to young people aged between 12 and 18 years to compete, coach or umpire in their chosen sport.

"The Northern Rivers has produced some outstanding sportspeople in the past, and it is important that we support the next crop of our local sporting talent.

"Unfortunately succeeding in sport doesn't just take talent and determination - parents also often have to put their hands in their pockets to get their children to competitions. I'm very pleased to be able to help these families with financial support through these grants.

"Sport is important in the development of young people: it teaches them life-long skills like teamwork, keeps them fit and healthy, and allows them to excel in something they love and enjoy."

Caniaba's Connor McCarthy was one of the recipients and is looking ahead to another big year in baseball.

He represented NSW Country at Australian Youth Baseball Championships in Blacktown earlier this month.

He credits his father Clint for coaching him and hopes to follow in the footsteps of Lismore product George Cooper.

"He (Cooper) represented Australia and has gone over to college in the United States," Connor said.

"I'm hoping I can be that good one day and be able to do something similar.

"My dad represented Queensland and he was one of our coaches at Blacktown, too."

Information on how to apply for the grants can be found at www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding.

The full list of recipients are: