mmg.com.au

Benalla P-12 College students and close friends Cameron Green and Luke Baker have both been selected as recipients of the Benalla Young Sportspersons Trust.

As reported in the Ensign on February 6, the pair was selected for the School Sport Victoria Triathlon State Team to compete in the School Sport Australia Triathlon Championship to be held in Penrith, NSW, in April.

Both will receive financial assistance to the value of $750, which will be put towards the upcoming competition and its associated travel and equipment costs.

Green and Baker applied for the trust about six weeks ago upon the recommendation of their coach, and Baker joked that he was quietly confident.

‘‘I thought we were in with a chance,’’ Baker said.

As such promising young athletes, their chances were certainly good, and the pair was presented with the cheques for $750 each by trustee Geoff Hill on Thursday, March 7.

Baker and Green join a long list of stellar recipients such as Tom Rockcliff, Tom Downie, Nathan Waite, Sarah David and Rebecca Boyd.

In their applications the boys were required to give detailed information about their sporting history, personal sporting achievements, fundraising activities and financial circumstances.

In anticipation of their upcoming trip to Penrith, both Benalla students have been working hard with their families to sell raffle tickets in order to help fund the trip. With only two books yet to be sold, both the fundraising and the trust will go a long way in covering the costs of competing in the School Sport Australia Triathlon Championship.

The Benalla Young Sportsperson Trust has been active since 2003 and has supported many of Benalla’s local junior athletes to achieve outstanding results at regional, state and international events.

The trust enables potential sporting stars from our community access to financial aid to help them meet their sporting commitments.

Baker said the trust was a great idea that provided young athletes with great support.

‘‘I think it’s very good, helpful and very supportive,’’ Baker said.

‘‘I think it’s a great idea.’’

Country kids often struggle more than their city counterparts to achieve exceptional sporting results due to the difficulties of being located a further distance from sporting infrastructure. The Benalla Young Sportsperson Trust was established to reduce any disparity between city and country young sportspeople that arises due to associated sporting costs.

Member for Benalla Bill Sykes is currently chair of the trust and encourages more up-and-coming local elite sportspersons to apply.

Application forms are available for completion and return from Bill Sykes’ office, 2/55 Carrier St, Benalla.