Three Community Wishes Granted by Local Business

Stevens Dance Academy, Melville Districts Teeball Club and Ride for Youth for Youth Focus each received $1000 at the Riseley Physiotherapy Activity Grants presentation night on Friday, 9 May 2008.

Supported by the City of Melville, the bi-annual grant program aims to improve opportunities for people in the local community to participate in sport and physical activities by offering financial assistance.

Riseley Physiotherapy’s Managing Director Glenn Ruscoe said it was great being able to give something back to the community. “The Activity Grants recognise the importance of sport and physical activity in maintaining health and wellbeing,” he said “Our three winners were all very deserving recipients, demonstrating their commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle among the community.”

City of Melville Deputy Mayor Councillor Harvey Everett presented the awards to the three recipients.

Below is some information on the three winning applicants:

Stevens Dance Academy

The Booragoon-based dance academy, which specialises in classical ballet, will use the grant to take a group of 10 students to Sydney in July 2008 to be a part of the McDonalds Performing Arts Challenge (formerly the Sydney Eisteddfod) and take part in some of Australia’s top vocational dance training schools.

School Principal Samantha Leeman said the grant would help to increase the potential of these up-and-coming young dancers. “This opportunity will allow these students to improve their technical and performance skills through attending optimum training sessions and competition at an elite level,” she said.  

Melville Districts Teeball Club

Melville Districts Teeball Club, based in Kardinya, teaches and provides teeball services to more than 260 children in the local area. The grant will enable the club to purchase a new line marking machine which is essential to play the game.

Claire Watkinson from Melville District Teeball Club said the grant was a great initiative that would be of great benefint to the club. “It is fantastic to see a local business providing financial support to local groups, especially when a main factor of the support is to see children stay fit and healthy and involved in organisations that aid in growing their confidence, fitness and promote a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

Ride for Youth and Youth Focus

Youth Focus is an organisation committed to the prevention of suicide, depression and self-harm in the community. The Ride for Youth will have cyclists ride from Perth to Albany to help to raise money to go towards Youth Focus and their cause.

Dr Gavin Marsh from Youth Focus said the grant would go towards providing services such as personalised therapy, peer-support programs and outreach services that will help develop resilience and coping skills, which are essential for the long-term prevention of suicide. “Over the past 12 months, Youth Focus has supported more than 500 young people and 150 families, free of charge, in their fight against youth suicide,” he said. “The grant will help us to reach our target amount of $30,000 and help raise community awareness of depression.”

Round two of the Riseley Physiotherapy Activity Grant are now open until Friday, 31^st October 2008. For more information, contact Riseley Physiotherapy on 9364 4073 or visit www.riseley.com.au.