With the road to Brisbane 2032 stretching long and winding ahead, a group of young New England athletes are already lacing up, loading boats, packing sticks and dreaming big, thanks to a timely boost from the Active Champions Fund.
For the second year running, HealthWISE has partnered with the Northern Inland Academy of Sport to award $2000 grants to five regional athletes, helping them cover the real-world costs of chasing elite sport from the bush.
And for the athletes themselves, the impact is immediate.
“The financial support went a long way – it took me all the way to Europe,” Calala hockey player and 2025 recipient Archie Clarke told this year’s Active Champions, reflecting on his time playing for the Australian under 16 Joeys overseas.
That message landed strongly with the 2026 cohort, many of whom are already juggling school, training, travel and equipment costs while chasing state and national selection.
Scone rower Isabella Henderson has wasted no time putting the funding to work, purchasing a new boat she has named ‘Bubbles’.
“I know this journey requires years of dedication, sacrifice, and resilience, but I am prepared for the challenge,” Isabella said.
The Armidale School student is targeting success at Head of the River and the Australian Rowing Championships, with her long-term sights firmly set on Olympic representation.
“In my heart and mind, I truly believe I was born for this,” she said.
From regatta entry fees and training camps to travel, nutrition and recovery, Isabella said the grant would cover a wide range of essential costs that often sit quietly behind the scenes of elite performance.
Tamworth basketballer Molly Stokeld will use her funding to pursue selection in the NSW under 16 state team and the Basketball NSW State Performance Program. Just as importantly, she is already giving back, coaching younger players through Aussie Hoops and Mini Hoops and staying deeply connected to the local basketball community.
In Armidale, hockey teammates Luke Schmude and Luke Whitty are riding high after winning gold with the NSW under 18s at the Indoor National Championships in January. Both say the grant will help ease the financial load on their families while allowing them to compete at their best across local and international competitions.
The pair also share a common inspiration in Kookaburra player and Armidale local Nathan Czinner.
“He inspires me to keep pushing, knowing that with hard work and commitment, I can achieve my dreams, no matter where I come from,” Luke Schmude said.
Calrossy student Charlotte Williams is balancing two sporting worlds, combining her place in the NSW state hockey squad with strong performances in athletics. Recently named a shadow for the under 16 hockey team, Charlotte also won the Combined Independent Schools discus title last year and placed fifth at the All Schools state championships.
“My ultimate dream is to represent Australia in either hockey or athletics at the Commonwealth Games, and maybe even the Brisbane Olympics in 2032,” Charlotte said.
The grant will support out-of-town coaching sessions, competition travel and new equipment as she continues to develop across both sports.
HealthWISE chief executive officer Sally Urquhart said the athletes represented more than podium potential.
“This fund isn’t just about medals or podiums. It’s about health. It’s about opportunity. And it’s about showing young people in regional Australia that their dreams matter and that their communities are backing them,” she said.
Delivered through the HealthWISE Gift Fund, which has supported community wellbeing initiatives since 2018, the Active Champions program is helping ensure that geography is no barrier to ambition, and that regional talent has every chance to shine on the national and international stage.
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