Northern NSW Football have announced the inaugural recipients of its RTC Group NNSWF Talented Indigenous Scholarships.
The scholarships were a Northern NSW Football initiative as part of its inaugural RTC Group Indigenous Round across its Premier Competitions in May, in conjunction with National Reconciliation Week.
The scholarships will assist eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recipients from the Hunter region and regional Northern NSW – including four players, one coach and three referees, with scholarships awarded to each recipient.
The RTC Group NNSWF Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talented Player Scholarship will help recipients represent Northern NSW Football at the 2022 National Youth Championships with contributions towards club registration and identification camp fees as well as costs associated with Talent Support Programs and the National Youth Championships. The player recipients are:
– Violet Nicholson: Tamworth FC, Northern Inland
– Kruze Davidson: Charlestown Azzurri FC, NNSWF Premier Competitions (Hunter Region)
– Jardie Morris: Macleay Valley Rangers, Football Mid North Coast
– Lara Turner: New Lambton FC, NNSWF Premier Competitions (Hunter Region)
The RTC Group NNSWF Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘C’ Licence Coaching Scholarship will help recipients complete Football Australia’s ‘C’ Licence advanced coaching accreditation, with coaches to receive ongoing support from NNSWF’s Coach Development Officer and Female Participation and Inclusion Officer. The coaching recipient is:
– Dylan Hugo: South Cardiff FC, NNSWF Premier Competitions (Hunter Region)
The RTC Group NNSWF Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talented Referee Scholarship will help recipients attend the 2022 NNSWF Referee Academy, with contributions also made towards registration fees and Talented Match Official Camp attendance. Referees will also receive ongoing support from NNSWF Referee Manager Brad Carlin and NNSWF’s Female Participation and Inclusion Officer Annelise Rosnell. The referee recipients are:
– Mahlia Hoskins: Football Mid North Coast
– Cayne Elford: Football Mid North Coast
– Gregory Kennedy: Football Mid North Coast
The scholarships, along with the inaugural RTC Group Indigenous Round, were the first steps towards connecting with the region’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage – according to Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland.
“I am delighted that we have been able to award these inaugural eight scholarships,” he said.
“These recipients will be role models for the next generation of Indigenous players, coaches and referees and will hopefully inspire others from their community.
“We want to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, coaches and referees across football while creating more opportunities for them to engage in professional development and this is a chance to identify and showcase the next generation who have the potential to achieve at the highest levels of the game.
“I congratulate Dylan, Mahlia, Cayne, Gregory, Violet, Kruze, Jardie and Lara on their scholarships and wish them all the very best for their future in football.”
RTC Group founding director and executive chairman Richard Claut is part of an organisation with strong passion for helping the underrepresented achieve their goals.
“RTC Group has a proud history of supporting local sportspeople and we’re incredibly proud to be associated with these scholarships,” Claut said.
“Everyone at RTC Group congratulates the eight inaugural scholarship recipients and wishes them well. We look forward to seeing them progress in their football careers.”
