INITIATIVES
Kids sport the winner of latest ABC campaign The latest promotion by the award-winning team at A better choice! (ABC) has seen $32,000 go directly to grassroots youth sporting organisations from their local fruit and veg shop. The Local Youth Sports Initiative was born from a desire to recognise the work local fruit and veg shops already do to support their local community while providing assistance to local sporting clubs to help them get back on the field after the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
U9 Easts Gold Rugby Union Team: After two seasons of disruption, the under 9s team will use their sponsorship money to keep their jerseys (which can only be done for teams with paid sponsors) and buy a new kit to ensure training starts with a bang in 2022.
ABC National Program Manager, James Patrick, said the idea for the campaign was spawned from the desire of the program’s participant stores to do more for the smallest members of their local community. “The team here at ABC agreed, and that’s how the initiative was created. The little guys, supporting the little guys, in big ways – it was a natural fit!” Mr Patrick said. Over 300 budding sportspeople were nominated from across the country, and Mr Patrick said the initiative reflected the long-standing connection between local fruit and veg shops and community sport. “Whether it’s donating half-time oranges or providing the quality food that keeps these little athletes strong, the connection between our retailers and their sporting community has always gone hand-in-hand,” he said. In Queensland, ten $500 sponsorships have been awarded (see table below) and a further 55 runners-up who will win $100 are yet to be announced.
Queenland’s sponsorship winners Nominee
Nominating ABC Retailer
Hawks Volleyball Club
Westridge Fruit & Vegetables
Oakey Junior Rugby League Club
Betros Bros
Nambour Little Athletics Club
Erbacher Fruit & Vegetables
Currimundi Soccer Club
B Fresh @ Warana Markets
Kiarra Milligan (U18 – Diver)
Crispy Carrot
Wests Juniors AFL Club
Amazons Family Fresh Markets
U9 Easts Gold Rugby Union team
Feast on Fruit and Delicatessen
Carina Girls Cricket Team
Zone Fresh Gourmet Markets
Aspley Devils Basketball Team
Top Spot Fruit Mart
Shibukai Martial Arts Club
Skippy’s Farmhouse
36 FRESH SOURCE
Summer 2021
Oakey Junior Rugby League Club: The smallest club in the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League competition, the Oakey Bears has seen player numbers reduced due to the disrupted 2020 season. The club will use their sponsorship money to implement new initiatives to grow its membership so local kids can continue to play for their local team.
Kiarra Milligan, Under 18s Diving: Kiarra is an elite diver with the Queensland Academy of Sport Juniors. With no competitions held during COVID, she has continued to train six days a week while studying for her Year 12 exams. Kiarra will use her sponsorship to assist with travel costs associated with competing.
