The Toowoomba Turf Club (TTC) today announced the first grant recipients in the 2015/16 Junior Sport Assistance Program (JSAP).
Four of Toowoomba’s finest junior athletes were selected in the 2015/16 JSAP funding which will assist with representative duties in their selected sport; Megan Smith (Tennis), Jordan Collins (Futsal), Tatum Stewart (Hockey) and Fraser Stewart (Swimming).
The four recipients are currently attending high school on the Darling Downs while achieving their sporting dreams at an elevated level.
Charleville-born, Dalby State High School student Megan Smith, 14 years of age, is currently ranked number one in Queensland and eighth nationally, with the dream to use her established career in tennis to later own and operate a successful tennis centre.
Although having only played the futsal for 12 months, 14-year-old Centenary Heights State High School student Jordan Collins has already achieved national selection and aspires to play V-League Futsal and represent Australia.
Talented siblings Tatum Stewart, a student of Fairholme College and Fraser Stewart, a Toowoomba Grammar School student, have a long list of sporting credentials between them across several sports including Queensland representative honours in hockey and swimming respectively.
The Junior Sport Assistance Program (JSAP) was initiated by the TTC in 2013 to assist families struggling to meet the costs of talented young sports people who are selected to represent their region, state or country at interstate or international carnivals.
TTC Chief Executive Officer Blair Odgers said the awarding panel were impressed with the calibre of applicants for the current round of funding and acknowledged that many families are under extreme financial duress when their talented child is selected to travel for representative duties.
“The Toowoomba Turf Club has been supported by the local Toowoomba community for over 125 years and the Junior Sport Assistance Program is one way we return that support to our community’s next generation of local athletes,” Mr Odgers said.
“The sporting resumes of our successful grant recipients of JSAP demonstrates that the pool of sporting talent on the Darling Downs is exciting and one that our community can be extremely proud off.
“We value our long standing role within the community and recognize that many families require financial assistance when their child or children, in the case of the Stewart family, are selected for representative sport.
“The TTC are very proud that we can lend a helping hand through JSAP,” he said.
Grants of up to $1000 are available upon application with the 2015/16 round of funding closing on December 11, 2015.
Further information including criteria and application forms, can be found by visiting the TTC website www.toowoombaturfclub.com.au.
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For further information please contact TTC Chief Executive Officer, Blair Odgers on 07 4634 6066.
