City Celebrates Sixteen of its Sportiest Youth

The scholarships, sponsored by the City of Melville Health and Lifestyle Services, are awarded annually to local sportspeople under the age of 19 who have competed at state level or above, or who have shown remarkable potential and aspirations to compete at the highest level.

Each scholarship winner received a Scholarship Pass valid for one year, which entitles the winner to free entry into the City’s recreation facilities for training purposes, as well as a pack with a drink bottle and towel.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the City of Melville Youth Sport Scholarship provided a fantastic opportunity for the City’s youth to further develop their skills and take part at the highest level possible in their chosen sport. “This program helps support our young sportspeople to reach their goals,” he said. “We are constantly amazed with the talent that is in the City of Melville.”

Mayor Aubrey added that the City supported the principles of a healthy lifestyle, including turning the tide on the obesity epidemic.

The athletes were selected from 29 candidates from a variety of sports.

The 2008 Scholarship winners and their associated sport and age are: 

Alex Fasolo – Football (16)

Ashleigh Dewar – Touch Football (19)

Jake Polce – Basketball (14)

Jarrad Ciesla – ­Football (16)

Jayden Smith – Water Polo (14)

Kane Lucas – Football (17)

Laura Duffield – Indoor Hockey (17)

Naomi Henn – Athletics (13)

Nicholas Mayer – Swimming (15)

Nina Catovic – Tennis (14)

Paul Bailey – Swimming (18)

Ryan Walpole – Swimming (17)

Tom King – Soccer (14)

Travis Luff – Volleyball (18)

Tristan Brown – Sailing (18)

Zoe Kemp – Swimming (14)

Ashleigh Dewar, Jake Polce and Tristan Brown were all scholarship winners in 2006 and 2007, while Ryan Walpole was a winner in 2007.

Tristan Brown said the Youth Sports Scholarship had helped him improve his fitness, with the use of the gym having allowed him to increase to the weight needed for him to be competitive in his division.

The selection panel included Councillors Mark Reynolds and Duncan Macphail, Community Recreation Coordinator Mick Doyle, Recreation Development Officer Renae Vallance and Department of Sport and Recreation A/Consultant Youth Elisabeth Bradshaw.

The panel commented on the extremely high level of applicants and were very impressed with individual achievements to date.  

City of Melville residents who have aspirations to compete at the highest level and will be aged under 19 before August 1, 2009, will be eligible for a Scholarship next year.

The City of Melville Youth Sport Scholarships are advertised in July each year.  Application forms are available from City of Melville Libraries and Recreation Centres or on www.melvillecity.gov.au.  Applications close in August each year.

The City of Melville has been offering the Youth Sports Scholarships since 1994.