FIVE exceptional junior athletes have been recognised for their sporting achievements.
They were presented with gift bags by Mayor Julie Hall at the Ordinary Council Meeting, on Wednesday, October 26, in Bowen.
Council provides a grant for junior elite athletes participating in a representative competition at regional, State or National level, to assist in meeting the costs of participating in a representative sports program.
Lincoln Thicker was one of two players selected from Bowen to compete for the Northern Touch Football representative team this year and travelled to Cairns to be one of 12 teams competing in the four-day Queensland State Championships, in early June.
Eleven-year-old Taleisa Savelio was asked to trial for the North Queensland rugby league girls 11-12 years team, after she played for Bowen in the all-schools league competition, for years 5 and 6, in Townsville.
Taleisa was surprised when she found out she had been selected as starting prop for the NQ side.
“This is her first-year partaking in footy as a prop and then making the 11-12 years North Queensland team as number 10,” Taleisa’s mum Leah Savelio said.
“She now plays rugby 7s with the U14s Whitsundays Junior girls Raiders team, in Airlie Beach, which just won the Viking Cup Carnival, over the weekend.
“She was nervous and shy when she received her bag from the mayor.
“She didn’t know what to expect or what to do, because it’s her first year of footy, everything is new to her and unexpected…she was surprised and very grateful for the invite.
“She is really enjoying footy, especially all the new friends she gets to make, laugh and play with.”
Jarrad Skiba, meanwhile, was successful in being selected in the Northern Under 12’s Rugby League team.
Playing in the second row, Jarrad’s side finished seventh overall at the State Championships.
Jarrad loves playing rugby league and is keen to continue to learn and develop his skills with the local Bowen Seagulls club.
Charlie Williams competed in the Under 11 North Qld Track and Field and finished 26th in the 3km team relay race held on the Gold Coast.
Hugo Williams competed in the Under 12 North Qld Track and Field and finished 34th in the 3km team relay race, on the Gold Coast.
