Athletes from across Northern Victoria who have competed in the Paris Olympics have been congratulated in State Parliament this week.
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said it was truly inspiring to watch local sportsmen and women competing on the world stage.
“Sports play a significant role not just in inspiring people to be fit and healthy but in bringing local communities together and providing people an opportunity to participate,” she said.
“It has been very inspiring to watch our local sportsmen and women competing on the world stage, and I want to congratulate all the athletes from right across Northern Victoria who have competed in the Olympic Games or will compete in the Paralympic Games,” Ms Broad said.
“Jenna Strauch won an Olympic silver medal in the four-by-100 medley relay team, having started her swimming career at the Bendigo East Swimming Pool.
“Bendigo’s Dyson Daniels was seriously impressive to watch on the basketball court.”
Other athletes from Northern Victoria include:
- Bec Allen, Basketball – born in Wangaratta;
- Benjamin Buckingham, 3000m Steeplechase – born in Myrtleford;
- Linden Hall, 1500m – hometown – Riddells Creek;
- Lauretta Hanson, Road cycling – born in Daylesford;
- Mitchell Iles, Men’s trap shooting – hometown – Hurstbridge;
- Aislin Jones, Skeet shooting – born in Shepparton;
- Ebony Lane, 4×100 relay athletics – hometown – Echuca;
- Catherine Skinner, Women’s trap shooting – hometown – Mansfield;
- Cortnee Vine, Soccer (or Football), – hometown – Shepparton; and
- James Willett, Men’s trap shooting – born in Yarrawonga.
Some of the Paralympians competing include:
- Col Pearse, Swimming – hometown – Echuca;
- James McQuillan, Wheelchair Rugby, – hometown – Echuca;
- Bridget Murphy, Para-equestrian, – hometown – Healesville; and
- Patrick French, Archery, – hometown – Romsey.
“At the Paris Olympics Bendigo’s own Andy Buchanan produced a wonderful run in the marathon, finishing in the top 50. He was not in the original team and was called up at the last minute. It was a good reminder to be ready – you never know when you are going to have to step up – and Andy certainly rose to the occasion,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad said the Paris Olympics had provided a brighter outlook for the community, at a time when there is not a lot of good news in regional Victoria, with record state debt and services crumbling after a decade of Labor.
“The Olympic Games are a reminder of what we lost when the Labor state government cancelled the Commonwealth Games for 2026, they wasted $600 million of taxpayer funds and damaged Victoria’s international reputation.”
“Premier Allan was the Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery and failed to deliver the games and also failed to appear before a parliamentary inquiry into the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games. It has been described as gold medal incompetence.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
