Smart money’s on scholarship winners being next big names in sport
If you want to know who will be the next big names in Wheatbelt sport, then look no further than this year’s successful Smarter than Smoking Country Sport Scholarship recipients.
08 December 2009
Eight athletes from the 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 Matthew France (Merredin/lawn bowls), Chaise Ludgate (York/equestrian), Haley Dare (Dumbleyung/gymnastics), Brittany Doney (Kukerin/gymnastics), Aaron Smith (York/lawn bowls), Justin Smith (York/lawn bowls), Chloe Buzza (Narrogin/hockey) and Steven Durrell (Narrogin/hockey).
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 Acting Manager Wheatbelt Jenifer Collins.
"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.
Athlete profiles:
Justin & Aaron Smith
Justin and Aaron Smith are two talented young athletes from York – Justin previously attended York District High School and Aaron is currently at the school. Justin and Aaron have been playing lawn bowls for five years starting when they were aged just 11 and nine. Getting coaching and playing tips has never been a problem for these young athletes – their father and both grandfathers play the sport.
In 2008 the pennant team they both played in won the Pennant – the team consisting of Mr Smith (dad) and three sons – an extraordinary effort. In 2008 Aaron was selected into the State Junior Squad and subsequent State Team. Justin and Aaron were both selected into the State Squad in 2009. The boys are now working towards their goal of representing Australia.
Steven Durrell, Narrogin/hockey
Steven was selected into the Western Australian Under 18 State Men’s Hockey Team that competed in Darwin in June 2009. Steven suffered a back injury whilst there and was hampered somewhat, however he continued to play and the team finished fourth in the competition.
In July, after receiving extensive back treatment, Steven was able to participate in Hong Kong and China representing the Australian Under 16 Schoolboys side, playing a round robin in Hong Kong against the Hong Kong senior team and Quandong, a provisional Chinese team. Australia convincingly won the competition.
In China the Australian team played a series of games, winning the first four games against Chinese representative school sides. The competition heated up with two games against the Tia Jing representative senior side. The boys lost 4-1 and 2-1 in the best games of the meet.
Steven is now planning to try out for the Western Australian Under 18 State Team again and will be continuing to receive back strengthening work with an AIS physiotherapist.
Chloe Buzza, Narrogin/hockey
Chloe was selected into the Western Australian 2008 Under 15 Women’s State Team that competed in Newcastle. The team finished first in that competition, and Chloe was elected by her team mates as Captain for the 2009 Western Australian Under 15 Women’s team that finished third in Brisbane.
Chloe will be training in talent squads in Perth this month and January for further development. She is hoping to play in the Western Australian Under 16 School Girls team in 2010 and for selection in future State teams.
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