Shellharbour City Council will create an online celebration to honour the sporting excellence of the city’s most talented athletes. 

The council will recognise 40 athletes from Shellharbour City who have received a 2021 Illawarra Academy of Sports (IAS) Scholarship. 

The athletes represent a wide variety of sports including hockey, AFL Girls, basketball, swimming, netball and triathlon. 

The IAS Mayoral reception due to be held in October 2021 had to be cancelled due to current COVID restrictions however athletes will receive certificates and gifts from Council this week. 

IAS scholarship recipients 
 
AFL Girls 
Abby Eldridge, Claire Ridding, Claire Wilson, Courtney Smith, Dakota Mason, Georgia Ridding, Indra Marshall, Ivy Halliwell, Jamie Brown, Tara Bancroft, Taylah Stephen and Victoria Summerill.  

Hockey: 
Amity Mayo, Darcey Kast, Jessica Avnell, Kiarah Inskip and Robert Frew.  

Basketball: 
Disaya Rose, Riley Giles and Ruben Borg. Netball scholarships were received by Daniella Avtarovski, Emilia Krstevski, Kiana Rieck, Larissa Clarke, Lauren Bancroft and Rhianna Clarke. 

Netball umpiring: 
Molly Farquar, Montana Doubell, Patrick Mitchell and Poppy Calder. 

Swimming: 
Bailey Crehan and Matthew Leembruggen. Tayissa Buchanan was awarded the LoneStar Scholarship. 

Triathlon scholarships: 
Harry Fraser, Jazlyn Cleary, Montana Doubell and William Mason. 

Athletes With a Disability scholarships: 
Charlize Colwell, Patrick Mitchell, Rosie Boyland and Telaya Blacksmith. 

Shellharbour City Mayor, Councillor Marianne Saliba said that although Council was unable to hold a reception, the athletes would still be recognised for their hard work and dedication to sport. 

“The success and ambition that these young athletes have demonstrated deserves to be celebrated and we wish them the best of luck in their sporting endeavours,” Cr Saliba said. 

“The IAS scholarship program gives young athletes sport specific skills to develop and support their abilities, as well as prepare for a professional sporting career”, Cr Saliba said. 

Media enquiries: Kelli Wells 0448 361 008