If you want to know who will be the next big names in Goldfields sport, then look no further than this year’s successful Smarter than Smoking Country Sport Scholarship recipients.
13 August 2009
Thirteen athletes from the Goldfields region have been awarded scholarships this year out of a pool of about 200 applications state-wide, from towns as far apart as Exmouth, Port Hedland, Esperance, Kalbarri, Mount Barker, Kukerin, Dumbleyung, Waroona and Margaret River.
Local 2009 recipients include Darby Scoble (Squash), Tahlia Holton (Gymnastics), Jayden Armstrong (Baseball), Richard Scott (Touch), Hannah Fullford (Equestrian) and Darcee Lee Garbin (Basketball).
An annual initiative of the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) and Healthway, the scholarships are now in their fifteenth year and assist young regional athletes to overcome barriers such as distance from facilities, competitions, development opportunities and coaches in their pursuit of state and national representation.
"Regional Western Australia has long been a gold mine of talented athletes in a range of sports, however without the help of scholarships like these you would have to wonder how many of these athletes would be able to reach their full potential," said DSR Regional Officer Sharon Jessett.
"The scholarships have over the years helped hundreds of athletes achieve their sporting goals, many of whom have gone on to become some of Australia's best sporting talents, so it's no stretch to say we may have the next big WA sports star among our 2009 scholarship recipients. Watch this space."
Essendon's Round 13 NAB Rising Star nominee Tayte Pears of Manjimup, West Coast Fever defender Susan Fuhrmann and BMX sensation Lauren Reynolds (both of Bunbury) and Great Southern waterskiers Steven Moss, Mitchell Cavanagh and Maddy Brady are among the many past recipients who have gone on to achieve great things in their sport.
Changes to the scholarships this year mean applications are now assessed against a series of performance categories and conducted on a state-wide basis, plus additional support is available to talented athletes who reside more than 500 km from Perth.
