Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton presented certificates to Local Sporting Champions recipients Riley Bond and Max Handley, who represented Dubbo in national futsal and billiards and snooker championships, respectively.
Local sporting champions recognised
Congratulations to the six young athletes from the Parkes electorate who have received financial assistance to participate in national and international sporting championships.
Ella Penman, Jack Deveson, Jacob Fordham, Max Handley and Riley Bond from Dubbo, and Scarlett Molloy from Broken Hill received grants under the Local Sporting Champions program to cover the costs associated with competing at a representative level.
Representing their schools and state in athletics, motorcycling, billiards and snooker, futsal, and swimming, these talented young athletes were able to compete in the sport they love without their families having to worry about the financial burden.
The Local Sporting Champions program provides grants of up to $750 for coaches, officials and competitors aged between 12 and 18 who are participating in state, national or international sporting championships. Grants can be used to cover the costs of travel, accommodation, uniforms and sporting equipment.
For more information about future rounds, visit sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/local_sporting_champions
Labor abolishes Mobile Black Spot Program
The Labor Government has abolished the Mobile Black Spot Program and provided no ongoing funding for other key regional communications infrastructure programs.
The Budget papers confirm that funding for the Mobile Black Spot Program ceases in 2026/27, with zero dollars allocated for 2027/28. There is also no funding beyond 2026/27 for the Better Connectivity Plan which covers a range of programs including for on-farm connectivity and the Regional Tech Hub.
Interestingly, the Budget papers also reveal plans by the Labor Government to ramp up funding for mobile connectivity just in time for the coming election year before it falls away and then comes to a grinding halt.
Improving connectivity for people in the bush is critical and shouldn’t be at the whim of Labor’s political strategy.
This comes after the previous round of the Mobile Black Spot Program saw 25 of the 26 available grants in New South Wales awarded to Labor seats.
Up until then, the Mobile Black Spot Program had provided crucial funding to improve mobile coverage in black spots throughout the Parkes electorate. However, there’s still plenty more dangerous black spots along our rural roads, so I can’t understand how Minister Rowland can in good conscious cut this life-saving program. If anything, more funding is needed, not less and certainly not zero.
Menindee CWA wins Australia Post grant
I’m pleased that the Country Women’s Association of NSW Menindee Branch has been awarded a 2024 Australia Post People of Post Grant.
The Menindee CWA’s $2,000 grant will be used to replace the old fluorescent lighting in the CWA hall with LED lighting. The hall is a vital facility for the entire community, where locals come together for a variety of events and social functions. This funding will make the hall more energy efficient, lowering electricity bills into the future.
The People of Post Grants are open to organisations aligned with one of four of Australia Post’s community focus areas – mental health, disaster support and resilience, Indigenous children’s literacy and learning, and environment and sustainability. Each year, Australia Post team members are invited to nominate a local organisation in their community for a grant of up to $2,000. Grants can be used for an approved project that strengthens local communities and creates positive social outcomes.
For more information about the program, visit: auspost.com.au/popgrants
