Scholarship winners to benefit from the best

Five of Australia’s best young aspiring athletes have been given the unique and invaluable opportunity to receive mentoring from some of the nation’s greatest athletes, including two-time Olympic gold medallist Susie O’Neill OAM and seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley, thanks to scholarships presented by The Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Aaron Nottle (WA, BMX), Deanna Lockett (VIC, short track speed skating), Holly Ferling (QLD, cricket), Maddison Elliott (NSW, AWD swimming) and Madelaine Leydin (VIC, gymnastics) excelled above 170 applicants to be selected for The 2014 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

The award winners will be paired and mentored with five great Australian athletes, all Members of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

The scholarships will be officially presented at The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Annual Induction and Awards Gala Dinner, proudly presented by Etihad Airways, on Thursday, 10 October at Crown Melbourne.

The Mentoring and Scholarship Program supports The Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s aim to excite the next generation of Australians to achieve their potential both in sport and life. 

Scholarships are awarded to aspiring athletes under the age of 21 to help young Australians reach the highest levels of their sport by providing encouragement, funding over a 12 month period and an international airfare from major sponsor Etihad Airways.

“The Scholarship and Mentoring Program is a unique program that excites recipients by offering them unrivalled access to Members of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame,” said John Bertrand AM, Chairman of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

“It is one of the most sought after scholarships for aspiring athletes in Australia and we are proud of the success of the program in its first seven years, with 17 past scholarship recipients representing Australia at the most recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.”

Along with mentoring by some of Australia’s greatest athletes, program recipients also receive:

-       $5000 sporting expenses grant

-       One return flight within Etihad Airways network

-       On-stage presentation at The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala Dinner

Established in 1985, The Sport Australia Hall of Fame aims to preserve and celebrate the history of Australian Sport and excite the next generation of Australians to achieve their potential both in sport and in life.

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program was introduced in 2006, with 42 junior Australian athletes benefiting from 51 scholarships and the opportunity to draw on the experience and wisdom of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Membership.

Such is the success of the program that 17 past and present scholarship recipients represented Australia at the most recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

For more information about The Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Scholarship and Mentoring Program, visit www.sahof.org.au.

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For further information and general enquiries please contact The Sport Australia Hall of Fame office on (03) 9510 2066 

For all media enquiries please contact either Taryn Kirby or Samantha Culbert from our media team on (03) 9822 7110