Tomorrow Today education program manager Sally Metheson, BYSPT president Bill Sykes, Tomorrow Today executive officer Jodie Fleming and BYSPT trustee Geoff Hill.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
What do X-Games gold medallist Rob Adelberg, AFL legend Tom Rockliff, WAFL star Becky Webster and cycling champ Baden Cooke have in common?
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Well, apart from performing at the highest levels in their chosen sports, all were given a helping hand long before they were famous by the Benalla Young Sportsperson’s Trust.
And they are just four out of literally hundreds of local young people the trust has offered financial support to since its inception in 1992.
While some made it to the top, those who didn’t had opportunities to take part in sports, or attend competitions that would have been out of their reach without financial assistance.
Recently, applications for assistance have dropped off, and the current board, Bill Sykes, Geoff Hill, state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Karen Edwards, Scott Upston and Henry Nam, have made the difficult decision to wind up its operations.
Dr Sykes said over the years a number of local people, businesses and organisations had donated funds.
While there were too many to list, he thanked them all for their help.
Dr Sykes said with other ways of raising funds, such as GoFundMe, the need for a specific organisation funding young people to participate in sport had declined.
The original board of the trust consisted of (former) Ensign editor Stephen Oxley, Olympic swimmer Alva Wyatt, Ron Daniels, Dr Sykes and Sue Hoysted.
Dr Sykes said its mission was to assist local, Benalla Rural City-based, young people to pursue their chosen sport.
“It went into recess in the late ’90s,” Dr Sykes said.
“And was re-activated by Kim Scanlon in the 2000s.
“One of the things trustees are most proud of is the diversity of sports BYSPT has been able to assist with, the diversity of ability of those who were assisted and the diversity of achievements from those we helped.”
In 2022, the trust assisted 16-year-old (at the time) para-canoist Natalie-Drew Cole.
That assistance was part of the reason she was able to compete in:
The Paddle Victoria Canoe Sprint State Championships.
The Paddle Victoria Canoe School State Championships.
The Paddle Victoria Marathon State Championships.
The Paddle Australia Canoe Marathon National Championship, and
The Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint National Championships.
She sent a thank-you letter to the trust outlining how much the assistance meant to her.
“The last six months has been unbelievable, and could not have happened without the generous help of the Benalla Young Sportsperson’s Trust,” she wrote.
“I really wanted to let you all know exactly what you have allowed me to achieve by helping me.
“Because these achievements are as much the Benalla Young Sportsperson’s Trust’s as my own.
“So I wish to thank you very much for helping me reach these amazing goals.”
Benalla's Tom Rockliff, Rob Adelberg, Becky Webster and Baden Cooke all had financial assistance from the Benalla Young Sportsperson's Trust before reaching the top in their chosen sports.
Photo by
Benalla Ensign
While the trust is closing, another philanthropic group in Benalla is taking up the reins.
With all the work that Tomorrow Today does with young people in the Rose City, the choice was obvious.
As such, any outstanding funds are being transferred to it, to continue to support local kids to get involved with sport.
Executive officer Jodie Fleming said she was always thrilled when other community groups worked with Tomorrow Today.
“It's really generous of them (BYSPT),” she said.
“We know participation in sport is really, really important for mental health, community connections and just connecting socially in general.
“Sport teaches you a lot about life.”
Ms Fleming said with current cost-of-living pressures, it was difficult for some families to get their kids into sport, and Tomorrow Today was here to help.
Just ensure you have a healthcare card or pension card. Alternatively, you can get a referral from a local club.
Then pop in to Tomorrow Today at Cecily Court, 67 Nunn St, Benalla or call 5762 1211.
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