Five young athletes from rural New South Wales have been awarded scholarships to help them on their journey towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, thanks to the Active Champions Fund. The initiative, a collaboration between local non-profit HealthWISE and the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS), has provided each athlete with $2,000 to assist with the significant costs of training and competition.
The scholarships were presented last week at the NIAS office in the Tamworth Sports Dome, where HealthWISE executive manager of strategy Sally Urquhart commended the athletes for their dedication.
“It’s champions like you who can stand up and show others the way,” said Urquhart.
Recognising the barriers faced by rural athletes, Urquhart highlighted the importance of physical activity, especially given that only 2% of Australian teenagers aged 13 to 17 meet the recommended daily exercise levels.
“As a health organisation, we recognise the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the impact it has on our physical and mental wellbeing,” said Urquhart.
NIAS CEO Shona Eichorn echoed this sentiment, noting that both NIAS and HealthWISE share a commitment to fostering healthier lifestyles and supporting young athletes in regional communities. Ms Eichorn and HealthWISE CEO Fiona Strang, both parents, understand the sacrifices families make to support their children’s sporting aspirations.
Meet the scholarship recipients
Teddy Hampton – Pole vault
Kootingal’s Teddy Hampton, a promising pole vaulter, welcomed the financial assistance. Training in Sydney most weekends, he faces high travel costs.
“That’s about 400 kms from here to there, and the cost of fuel is going up,” said Hampton.
Transporting his poles adds further expense, as they require additional baggage fees.
Teddy’s hard work is paying off. After clearing 4.25 metres, he is ranked first in New South Wales for his age and third nationally. In January, he broke a record at the under-18s NSW Country Championships with a four-metre jump. His ultimate goal? An Olympic appearance.
Archie Clarke – Hockey
Calala hockey player Archie Clarke is set to travel to Europe with the Australian under-16s Joeys team.
“It was just something us rural kids don’t get very often,” said Clarke.
Archie’s proudest achievements include winning national finals and being selected for the Junior Australia team. He aims to make the NSW under-18s outdoor state team and progress to the Australian Futures program, with aspirations of Olympic gold.
Orlando York – Tennis
Tamworth tennis player Orlando York discovered his love for the sport on his 10th birthday. Starting out, he struggled to hit the ball but embraced the challenge. Now an A-grade competitor, he acknowledges the difficulties of being a rural athlete but believes it fuels his determination.
His goals include selection in the Tennis NSW/Regional Academies of Sport Country Stars Tennis Program and the PURSU32+ Olympic Pathway Talent Program. He hopes to secure a US tennis scholarship and ultimately play professionally.
Benjamin Shaw – Mountain biking & road cycling
Tamworth’s Benjamin Shaw is making a name for himself in cycling. As the current under-15 male NSW champion in the AusCycling cross-country mountain biking national series, he recently secured two podium finishes in Hobart. With another national race in Canberra this month and a transition to road cycling later this year, the scholarship will ease his financial burden.
His dream? To compete in a professional cycling team and race internationally, with an Olympic appearance in mind.
Charlie Ward – Clay target shooting & equestrian
Guyra’s Charlie Ward is a dual-threat athlete excelling in both clay target shooting and equestrian sports. She represented Australia in dressage and show jumping in China last year, defying expectations to become the Australian National Ladies Champion (12-gauge) at the Australian Clay Target Association’s Down the Line Championships.
Charlie has her sights firmly set on the Brisbane Olympics.
“I hope the scholarships will enhance your ability to access training and competitions, and to continue to strive to be the best version of you – athletically, but also personally,” said Urquhart.
Investing in future champions
The Active Champions Fund is part of the HealthWISE gift fund, which has been supporting community health initiatives since 2018. Last year, it helped nine childcare centres establish kitchen gardens to promote fresh food education.
This latest investment in local talent demonstrates the commitment of HealthWISE and NIAS to fostering sporting excellence in regional Australia. With the Brisbane 2032 Games on the horizon, these young athletes are one step closer to making their Olympic dreams a reality.
Top image: (Back) Archie Clarke, Orlando York, Teddy Hampton, HealthWISE board director Stephen Doley, (Front) HealthWISE executive manager of strategy Sally Urquhart, NIAS CEO Shona Eichorn, Charlie Ward, Benjamin Shaw, HealthWISE board director Alison Treloar. (Supplied)
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