Grants for South-West sporting groups

16/10/97

Badminton, squash, soccer and basketball in the South-West are to benefit from Sports Lottery Fund grants.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore announced the grants to the Blackwood-Warren Junior Badminton Club, the Alexander Squash Club, the Collie Junior Soccer Association and Mandurah Basketball Association today.

Badminton will use a $920 grant to help it meet the costs of the recent Higgs Trophy Junior Badminton Championships.

The trophy features three-day teams and three-day individual events and was held during the school holidays.

Three State team scholarships each valued in total at $600 also have been awarded to:

Cassie Mines, Jamie Herring and Colin Harris of the Alexander Squash Club. They will be attending the 1997 State Age Squash titles;

Collie Junior Soccer Association to help Adam Cole, Blair Fitzpatrick and Stephen Waycott take part in a development squad with an eye to selection in the National Talent Identification Championship in 1998; and -

Mandurah Basketball Association to help Daniel Zwerus, Cody Blay and Casey Mihilovich attend the State Basketball Championships. They will be joined by South West Basketball Council representatives Jackie Bovell, Katy Clarke and Kane Thompson.

"It is vital that young athletes from across Western Australia get the help they need to make the most of their sporting talents," Mr Moore said.

"I am delighted that this funding is helping young people from diverse areas and across a range of sports."

Media contacts: Bob Figg, Ministry of Sport and Recreation (08) 9387 9749 Hartley Joynt, Minister's office (08) 93211444