Wollongong’s brightest young athletes were recognised on Wednesday 2 April at the Wollongong City Council Mayoral Reception.
Attendees had the pleasure of hearing from and meeting with City of Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown, and other esteemed and valued members of the Wollongong community.
Illawarra Academy of Sport athletes Tully McCarthy, a Future Stars tennis athlete (16), and Abigail Inman, a Future Stars football athlete (17), delivered a vote of thanks speech on behalf of the Wollongong athletes, outlining the positive impact that the IAS has had on their sporting journey, and thanking Wollongong City Council for their ongoing support.
“This is my second year within the Illawarra Academy of Sport, and I have accomplished many things during this short time,” McCarthy said.
“The IAS are one of my biggest supporters, and the program helps aspiring young athletes through what could possibly be the hardest time to be a young student athlete.
“Thank you to all the sponsors of the IAS – Illawarra Credit Union, AceIt, Soto Engineering, Storage King, BlueScopeWIN Community Partners, Qube Ports and BaiMed – and thank you to Wollongong City Council for hosting this event and for your ongoing support of the Illawarra Academy of Sport.”
Inman, an under 18s goalkeeper with the reigning NPL NSW 1 female champions Macarthur Rams, thanked the IAS for their contribution towards her career as she continues to develop into a professional athlete.
“The Illawarra Academy of Sport has provided me with opportunities to advance my development, including receiving a scholarship from the Wollongong Wolves Female High-Performance Football Program, and I recently won goalkeeper of the tournament at the Talent Support Program run by Football NSW,” Inman said.
“The IAS not only focus on enhancing athletic performance, but also emphasise the importance of education, well-being, and mental strength – all of which have shaped me into a more well-rounded individual.
“The Illawarra Academy of Sport provides me with skills that will stick with me for a lifetime. I wouldn’t be the same athlete I am today without the IAS.
“On behalf of all Illawarra Academy of Sport athletes, thank you to the IAS and Wollongong City Council for your ongoing support.”
City of Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown congratulated the IAS athletes and wished them well on their sporting journey.
“Congratulations to the 114 Illawarra Academy of Sport scholarship recipients from the City of Wollongong,” Lord Mayor Councillor Brown said.
“Wollongong Council is a proud supporter of the Illawarra Academy of Sport and we are pleased to support our future stars. We wish them all a successful year ahead.”
Illawarra Academy of Sport President Sharon Wingate praised the efforts of Wollongong City Council and thanked the organisation for their contribution towards the IAS.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Wollongong City Council for their continued support and dedication to the Illawarra Academy of Sport,” Wingate said.
“As one of the six founding members, Wollongong City Council has been a crucial contributor to the IAS, playing an integral role in nurturing and shaping some of Australia’s most decorated athletes who call the Illawarra home.
“Our goal is to foster sporting champions, but we also strive to build confident, responsible, and resilient young citizens.”
