This month we awarded three Young Achiever Scheme grants to help young members of our community participate in their chosen ventures.
14-year-old Harmon Hoodcamp represents De Been 100% Jiu Jitsu Academy Wodonga in the junior elite team and used the council's financial assistance to travel to Melbourne where he competed at the recent Pan Pacific Kids Jiu Jitsu Championship.
His mum, Megan, said her son was excited to take home a silver medal.
"He had two matches and one of the competitors he has never wrestled against before and with that there's the element of the unknown," she said.
"So he has developed his mental strength because when you compete against someone you have never met, it's a mental game."
Harmon has been involved in his sport for three years.
Owner and head coach, Greg Probyn speaks highly of Harmon, saying he is always ready to assist his fellow teammates and always asks questions to improve his own skillset and game.
Harmon is now gearing up for trials for a competition within the club.
Our second recipient, Jack Abbruzzese is excited to take part in his first overseas trip as well as his first overseas sporting event when he flies to New Zealand in January next year.
Jack will spend seven days in New Zealand and compete at the Colgate Games - the biggest annual athletics event in New Zealand for junior athletes.
He will be competing in the Australian Track and Field Championships in hurdles and triple jump.
These championships are the national competition of which athletes have to meet national qualifying standards to be able to participate and need to go through their relevant state championships to do so.
Jack hopes to bring back some medals or personal best results.
Our third recipient, Lily-Anne, is chasing another medal at next year's Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup that will be held from January 15 to 20 in Albury-Wodonga.
Lily-Anne (who was selected as an emergency) won gold in the U/16 Victorian Bushrangers team at this event at the beginning of the year.
She has been selected to represent Country Victoria, with teams from across Australia and New Zealand set to compete.
The talented basketballer is also part of the state development program in Victoria.
This year she added netball to her sporting resume and played in the Ovens and Murray League in U/15's and was part of the undefeated Wodonga Bulldogs team that won the premiership.
