What: Greater Building Society Olympic Scholarships Awarded
When: Thursday November 3, 2011 at 10.30 am
Where: Boulevard on Beaumont, Cnr of Tudor and Beaumont Streets, Hamilton
Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medallist Benn Harradine, European and world moth class sailing champion Nathan Outteridge, and trampolinist Ty Swadling are three of ten athletes to receive a boost to their London Olympics’ preparations today.
A total of 10 athletes across seven different sports have been awarded a $2,000 Greater Building Society Sport Scholarship. There are four, first-time, scholarship winners this year. They are 15 year old swimmer Meg Bailey, 18 year old water polo player Nathan Power, 23 year old sprinter Liam Gander and 19 year old discus thrower Liam Speers.
Ty Swadling accepted his scholarship before heading to Birmingham in England to compete in the World Trampolining Championships, the first London Olympics’ qualifying event for trampolining.
The annual scholarships are managed for the Greater by Hunter Academy of Sport. In addition to funding, they also receive advice from the Academy’s consultants in areas such as sports psychology, nutrition, physical fitness, injury prevention and injury treatment.
Academy chief executive Ken Clifford said that, with less than nine months (267 days) to go to the London Olympic Games, Hunter athletes are gearing up for qualifying events which cost considerable money to attend.
“These scholarships help to the substantial costs are Olympic hopefuls face as they strive to achieve their dream of representing the region and their country in the world’s best known contest,” Mr Clifford said.
Greater Building Society partnerships manager Steve Goverd said that the Greater Building Society Olympic Scholarships were a small contribution on behalf of Greater members and staff to help some very talented local people to be the best that they can be.
Mr Goverd said that in the 18 years in which the scholarship program has been running, the Greater has helped 80 athletes to represent Australia at the world’s premier sporting event. Seven of Australia’s 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic teams were current or former Greater Sports Scholarship holders.
The Greater Olympic Scholarship program is now in its 19th year. The Greater also funds other Academy programs to help more athletes and their families to meet the costs of attending programs and competing in their chosen sports. It also supports the Academy’s athletics and tennis as well as its annual awards night.
The London Games will be held from July 27 to August 12, 2012. Athletes will compete in 26 sports.
Media information: List of winners attached
For information on the Olympics visit www.olympics.com.au or www.london2012.com
2011/12 GREATER BUILDING SOCIETY OLYMPIC SPORT SCHOLARSHIPS
Meg Bailey - Age 15 – Swimming (Merewether)
Meg was selected this year in the NSWIS Emerging Talent Squad and in the Australian Flipper Squad. She won 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the 2011 Australian Age Championships. At the 2011 NSW Country Short Course Championships Meg was named as the Female Swimmer of the Meet after winning 7 gold and 4 silver medals.
Liam Gander - Age 23 - Athletics (Sprints) (Elermore Vale)
Liam was selected this year in the Australian Mens 4x100 Relay Team for the World Track & Field Championships. At the 2011 Australian Championships he placed 4th in the 100 metres and 5th in the 200 metres. In 2010 Liam was the Oceania 100 metres champion. His personal bests are 10.41 seconds for 100 metres and 21.12 seconds for 200 metres.
Benn Harradine - Age 29 - Athletics (Discus) (Eleebana)
Benn has been the Australian Champion in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and is currently the Australian Record Holder with 66.45 metres. He won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and at the World Championships in 2011 placed fifth.
Simon Orchard - Age 25 – Hockey (Maitland)
Simon has been a member of the Australian Men’s Hockey Squad (Kookaburras) since 2008. The team won the Commonwealth Games gold medal and World Cup gold medal in 2010. Simon was named the 2010-2011 was the “Kookaburra of the Year”.
Nathan Outteridge - Age 25 –Sailing (Wangi Wangi)
In 2011 Nathan won all four major world 49ers (Olympic Class) events held and won the European and world moth class championships. He is one of five sailors nominated as a finalist in the 2011 “World Sailor of the Year’’.
Nathan Power - Age 18 - Water Polo (New Lambton)
In 2011 Nathan was the Australian Junior (under 18) captain and Australian Schoolboys Captain. He was also named the Most Valuable Player at the National Under 18 Championships in 2011. Nathan has played in the Hunter Hurricanes National League Men’s Team in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and has been a NSW Senior Country Representative since 2009.
Aaron Royle - Age 21 – Triathlon (Maryland)
During this year Aaron has been competing successfully on the tough European Circuit. He was selected to represent Australia at this year’s World Cup Championships in Edmonton. Aaron finished 2nd in this year’s Oceania Men’s Championships in Wellington, New Zealand and was selected to represent Australia at this year’s World Under 23 Championships in Beijing where he finished 14th (highest placed Australian).
Liam Speers - Age 19 - Athletics (Discus) (Merewether)
This year Liam represented Australia at the World Junior Championships in Germany. At the 2011 NSW Championships he won the open discus and also broke the NSW Open Discus Record. At the NSW Country Championships he was the Junior Champion in discus, javelin and shot put. Liam was also the 2011 National Junior Discus Champion.
Ty Swadling - Age 23 – Trampoline (Charlestown)
At the 2011 Australian Championships Ty won the gold medal in the open men’s individual trampoline and placed second in the open men’s synchronised trampoline. For the Australian Championships Ty was named as the NSW State Team Captain. He has attended two World Cup Events during 2011 in China and Bulgaria. Ty has been selected to represent Australia at the 2011 World Championships in England and has been named as one of only two male trampolinists on the 2012 London Olympic Shadow Team.
Laura Whaler - Age 24 - Athletics (Sprints) (East Maitland)
Laura was selected in the 2011 Australian 4 x 100 metres relay team to compete in the World Championships in Korea. At the 2010 Australian Championships she was a silver medalist in both the 100 metres and 200 metres events. Her personal best times are 11.46 seconds for 100 metres and 23.45 seconds for 200 metres. Laura is currently ranked 4th Australian in both 100 metres and 200 metres.
