Kids sport the winner of latest ABC campaign

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. 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 Oakey Junior Rugby League Club Nambour Little Athletics Club Currimundi Soccer Club Kiarra Milligan (U18 – Diver) Wests Juniors AFL Club U9 Easts Gold Rugby Union team Carina Girls Cricket Team Westridge Fruit & Vegetables Betros Bros Erbacher Fruit & Vegetables B Fresh @ Warana Markets Crispy Carrot Amazons Family Fresh Markets Feast on Fruit and Delicatessen Zone Fresh Gourmet Markets

Aspley Devils Basketball Team Top Spot Fruit Mart Shibukai Martial Arts Club Skippy’s Farmhouse 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.

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.

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.