This month we presented three Young Achiever Scheme grants to help young members of our community participate in their chosen ventures.
14-year-old Harmon Hoodcamp represents De Been 100% Jiu Jitsu Academy Wodonga in the junior elite team and used the council’s financial assistance to travel to Melbourne where he competed at the recent Pan Pacific Kids Jiu Jitsu Championship.
His mum, Megan, said her son was excited to take home a silver medal.
“He had two matches and one of the competitors he has never wrestled against before and with that there’s the element of the unknown,” she said.
“So he has developed his mental strength because when you compete against someone you have never met, it’s a mental game.”
Harmon has been involved in his sport for three years.
Owner and head coach, Greg Probyn speaks highly of Harmon, saying he is always ready to assist his fellow teammates and always asks questions to improve his own skillset and game.
Harmon is now gearing up for trials for a competition within the club.
Our second recipient, Jack Abbruzzese is excited to take part in his first overseas trip as well as his first overseas sporting event when he flies to New Zealand in January next year.
Jack will spend seven days in New Zealand and compete at the Colgate Games – the biggest annual athletics event in New Zealand for junior athletes.
He will be competing in hurdles and triple jump and hopes to bring back some medals or personal best results.
Jack started at Albury Little Athletics back in the under 7's and is now 14 years old and has recently broken the record for hurdles in his age group at the centre.
Our third recipient, Lily-Anne McClure is chasing another medal at next year’s Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup that will be held from January 15 to 20 in Albury-Wodonga.
Lily-Anne (who was selected as an emergency) won gold in the U/16 Victorian Bushrangers team at this event at the beginning of the year.
She has been selected to represent Country Victoria, with teams from across Australia and New Zealand set to compete.
The talented basketballer is also part of the state development program in Victoria.
This year she added netball to her sporting resume and played in the Ovens and Murray League in U/15’s and was part of the undefeated Wodonga Bulldogs team that won the premiership.
The Young Achiever Scheme recognises and supports young people (under 25) who display an outstanding commitment or achievement in their chosen field.
The scheme provides financial assistance to individuals or groups of young people to participate, develop skills, compete, perform or represent Wodonga in their chosen endeavour at a local, state, national or international level.
There are six categories:
- Arts, performance, music and dance;
- Sport and recreation;
- Community leadership;
- Education and training;
- Cultural; and
- Agricultural, environmental and sustainability.
Applications can be found here.
