Zali Steggall MP OAM Celebrates Northern Beaches’ Rising Sports Stars

Local athletes of the future were celebrated at the Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club on October 23, where Federal Member for Warringah Zali Steggall OAM recognised the region’s emerging sporting talent at a special Local Sporting Champions celebration.

The event brought together grant recipients, their supporters and established local athletes to acknowledge the dedication, hard work and achievements of junior athletes across a range of sports.

Steggall, herself an Olympic medallist, congratulated the athletes and presented the Local Sporting Champions Grants, which provide financial assistance to help young sportspeople participate in state, national and international competitions.

“Warringah has a rich tradition of sporting excellence and its fantastic to be able to support the new generation of sporting champions,” Steggall said. “We had a great session where grant recipients and their supporters heard firsthand from local athletes about the journey sacrifice and rewards of a career in sport.”

Stegall hosted the event and shared insights from her own sporting journey.

Guest speakers included the following local athletes:

• Emma Jeffcoat, Olympic triathlete and former surf lifesaving Ironwoman
• Robin Bell, an accomplished Australian canoe slalom athlete who represented Australia at three Olympics
• Duncan Cowan, Australia’s #1 ranked Ski Cross athlete who proudly carried the flag at the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics in South Korea. He has been a recipient of the Local Sporting Champions grant.

For more information about the Local Sporting Champions program, visit www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/local_sporting_champions.