Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Council Splash The Cash On Sports And Athletes

A series of the Whitsundays’ sporting clubs and junior athletes have received some early Christmas presents courtesy of Whitsunday Regional Council.

Council approved Sports and Recreation grants for five of the region’s sports groups in an end-of-year cash splash, with a total of $14,000 distributed amongst the clubs.

Bowen Seagulls Junior Rugby League received the largest grant ($5,500), with Bowen Netball Association and Whitsunday Weightlifting Association receiving $3,000 each, as well as Proserpine BMX Club receiving $1,500, and Tennis Whitsunday Club $1,000.

As well, Council allocated Financial Support to some of the Whitsundays’ Junior Elite Athletes in the same meeting: Sophie Fletcher, Kayla Vella, and Catherine Maund.

Sophie Fletcher – who received support of $250 dollars through the Council led program – will represent North Queensland at the State Level for both running and swimming in the 11- and 12-years category of the Hervey Bay Aquathlon Championships in February next year.

Kayla Vella, a Queensland representative for touch football, has already competed in her U15s Girls Touch Championships in Wagga Wagga – for which she received $1,000 support from Council.

As well, young athlete Catherine Maund received $1,000 to represent the state in Horseball Team Championships in Equitana, Melbourne back in November.

The Whitsundays has, in the past and even recently, produced some of the country’s exceptional Horseball players – a sport that combines the elements of horseback riding with polo, rugby, netball, and basketball. Most notably with Ms Maund herself, who travelled as part of the Horseball Australia team to France earlier this year alongside fellow Whitsundays rider Charlotte Adams.

That Financial Support comes after a major set of donations in November to Horseball athletes Ruby Cran, Amy Gray, Lachlan Gray, Charlotte Adams, Charlotte Lee, and Brooke Mizzi – each of whom received $1,000 to head to the Horseball Championships.

Alongside them were Junior Elite Athletes Corey Stroud – who will head to an International Futsal competition, representing his country and receiving $2,000, as well as Jacob Godden, who already completed in the National Futsal Championships and was granted $2,000

A Whitsunday Regional Council spokesperson said it was “incredible to see our junior athletes competing at such a high level.”

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