Gympie AFL rising star wins grant to attend state titles

Archie is one of 24 Wide Bay sport stars to receive grants to help them compete at state and national titles this year

Jones Hill student and talented AFL player Archie Shannon is one of 24 young sports stars across the Wide Bay to receive a grant to help him compete at the Queensland State AFL Championships this year.

Jones Hill student and talented AFL player Archie Shannon is one of 24 young sports stars across the Wide Bay to receive a grant to help him compete at the Queensland State AFL Championships this year.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O‘Brien yesterday congratulated the sports stars receiving the grants.

“Sports are an integral part of life in Wide Bay, and I am pleased that our outstanding young sportsmen and women are receiving this support through the Local Sporting Champions program to represent our region,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Wide Bay’s sporting champions participate in a diverse range of sports, they come from every community, and these grants help them meet the costs of competing in state and national championships which can be quite high where long-distance travel and accommodation is required,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This funding will help to ease that pressure on local families, and help our young athletes participate fully and achieve their sporting goals.

”The following young sportsmen and women will each receive a grant of $550 or $650, to the total value of $13,700, through the Liberal and Nationals Government’s Local Sporting Champions grants program which supports participants aged 12 to 18 to help meet the costs of participating in sporting events, including travel, equipment, uniforms and accommodation.

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The Australian Sports Commission is responsible for the management and coordination of the program, with grant recipients selected by a local panel. Applications for the grants can be made at any time, through the Australian Sports Commission’s website www.ausport.gov.au/champions. For further information please contact Mr O’Brien’s office on 1300 301 968.