Bunnings announced on September 6 that they will be giving away $50,000 worth of products and materials to five local Australian Football Clubs across the country.Bunnings developed the initiative to support the ever-increasing demand on local club facilities as Australian football reaches an all time high in popularity exceeding more than 528,000 players in 2024, breaking the game’s all-time registered participation record of 526,000 set last year. Local clubs have been encouraged to apply for these Bunnings Home Ground Advantage grants at www.bunnings.com.au/campaign/home-ground-advantage. Sydney Swans AFL star Tom Papley and GWS Giants AFLW All-Australian Alyce Parker were today announced as the New South Wales ambassadors for the campaign and were very supportive in a press release today.“All clubs are unique and special – there’s nothing quite like the love for your team and putting the jumper on. Bunnings wants to showcase what makes your footy club great and what makes it heart and soul,” said Papley.“Country towns are built around their community centres, groups and sporting teams. Coming from a small town in southern New South Wales, I’ve seen first hand how unique and special they are to those that call them home,” said Parker.Applications for the grants close September 30, with the five successful clubs to be notified on October 18.

Australian Paralympic athletes were in action across six sports on the eighth day of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The highlights were gold medals in the pool and on the road.SwimmingTim Hodge delivered a dominant performance to win the men’s SM9 200m individual medley in a new Paralympic record time of 2:13.31.The win added to the gold medal he claimed earlier in the week as part of the mixed 4x100m medley relay (34 points).“I’m really happy with that result and now it’s time to have a little bit of a celebration with the gold medal…then once the meet is over, my coach and I can really let the feeling sink in,” Hodge said.Road Cycling Lauren Parker has capped off a phenomenal Paralympic Games campaign with the ‘race of her life’ to win the gold medal in the 28.4-kilometre H1-5 Para-cycling road race at Clichy-sous-Bois on the outskirts of Paris.The 35-year-old’s win comes hot on the wheels of Wednesday’s silver medal in the 14.2km individual time trial and her victory in Monday’s Para-triathlon.“I am so stoked with that performance today I just can’t believe it,” said a jubilant Parker. “I really can’t believe what I’ve accomplished.”ShootingAnton Zappelli’s Paris campaign came to an end after finishing 18th in the R6 mixed 50m rifle prone SH1 on Thursday.Up against the elements in the open-air 50m rifle range at Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Zappelli shot a total score of 616.5 across six 10-shot series, across 50 minutes of match time.In a stacked field of 35 other competitors, only the top eight qualified for the final. Zappelli said the cold weather that caught him off guard.“The conditions in terms of the wind were actually perfect, there was no wind which makes it difficult to accept the result,” he said.ArcheryAustralia’s archery campaign came to a dramatic close as crowd favourite Taymon Kenton-Smith and Amanda Jennings lost in a nail-biting shoot-off against India’s Harvinder Singh and Pooja in the 1/8 elimination of the mixed team recurve open. It came down to the final two arrows. Singh and Pooja held their nerve, delivering the decisive shots to secure victory.“My arrow went on to the plunger button, which is above the arrow rest, and I aimed off a little bit, but obviously I didn’t aim off enough, and unfortunately, I missed the target,” Kenton-Smith said. “But that’s archery, that’s the sport.” AthleticsVanessa Low entered rarified athletic air in Paris on Thursday night, when she collected her third consecutive Paralympic Games gold medal and broke her own long jump world record in her T63 leg amputee class.Her first in Rio 2016 was under the German flag, but due to the charm and talent of her Australian husband Scott Reardon – and now her coach - the next two from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 were won in the green and gold.“What keeps driving me is trying to be the best I can be,” Low said. “I love pushing myself on the big stage and I think I can jump six metres – I think that’s possible. I want to break barriers.” Table TennisSam von Einem has been defeated by Gi Tae Kim (Republic of Korea) in the semi-final of the Para-table tennis men’s singles (MS11) to win a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics.  Von Einem showed his fighting qualities throughout the match, overcoming a slow start to draw level 1-1. But Kim went on to avenge his loss to the Australian at the International Table Tennis Federation Slovenia Para Open earlier this year. “He was switched on,” von Einem said. “He played very well. I felt like he was very well prepared. He took on my serve quite well.” 

Sydney FC will host the Kiama Football Festival on September 14 and 15 at the Kiama Sports Complex which will consist of teams of 8-10 players playing six or more games.The first day will feature Under 7’s and Under 9’s teams and the second day will feature Under 10’s and Under 12’s teams. Event organiser and Fan Engagement Manager for Sydney FC, Billy Kirk, says the day was implemented to counteract the lack of junior football games played this winter due to poor weather.“This Kiama football festival gala day was designed on the back of a really wet and tumultuous winter season of community football,” says Kirk, “the kids are especially the ones who have been missing out with all of their local winter football games. So we thought this would be a nice way to re-engage and reinvigorate what they missed out on as well as ultimately celebrating the end of the season with just a one day gala day.”It costs $300 to enter a team into the competition and there are no restrictions on gender composition or team members who wish to play.The cost for the ticket goes towards the organisation of the event, a ticket offer to an A-League match, a trophy for the winning teams and additional Sydney FC prizes. The day will be a family affair, with children's activities available including hair braiding, glitter, and inflatable activations.Kirk emphasised the importance of big clubs like Sydney FC getting down to small communities like Kiama and giving them more opportunities surrounding football.“It’s about being able to give back and provide smaller communities, like Kiama, opportunities that they’re not normally going to be able to experience compared to clubs and communities in major cities like Sydney and to a smaller extent, Wollongong,” says Kirk.“So, it's good to be able to get down to Kiama and run something for the Kiama community and also to bring people down to showcase what Kiama is all about.”Kirk also hopes that events like these will help grow participation in football in Australia and inspire more events like the gala day in the area.“In terms of the growth of the sport it's a different format to what some would play so it can translate into out of regular season winter competitions and expand on the presence that football has throughout the calendar year,” says Kirk.The Kiama Football Festival is nearing capacity, so registrations are now available by Expression Of Interest only. Email [email protected] to express interest in registering your team.

Sailing for the whole familyPeople seem to think that sailing is a very expensive sport, at Oak Flats Sailing Club that could not be further from the truth. In comparison to team sports, sailing is very affordable, to start sailing you don’t even need to own a boat!Local sailors established Oak Flats Sailing Club in a shed near what is now known as Deakin Reserve in 1950. We have a proud history for the past 75 years in the Oak Flats/Shellharbour community. We have gained a reputation of producing accomplished sailors, who have succeeded and progressed to be state and national title holders, including Spiral Class 4.6 National Champion, Sydney to Hobart runners up 2022 and overall winners 2023.Newly renovated sailing clubhouseWe pride ourselves on creating a secure, safe and friendly family atmosphere with lots of fun for all our members. We are a not-for-profit community-based sporting organisation. Oak Flats Sailing Club is proudly affiliated with Australian Sailing. Our newly renovated sailing clubhouse is situated in picturesque parklands at Deakin Reserve Oak Flats, just off Central Ave on the Southern Shores of Lake Illawarra. Our sailing is conducted Sundays from September till May weather permitting. Our sailing club provides a safe, fun sailing experience with beginner lessons at our sailing school held Sunday mornings, starting at 9:00am. Club races and beginner lessonsOak Flats Sailing Club provides Club Boats & P.F.D.’s (lifejackets) as well as expert tuition. We welcome people of all ages. For the more experienced sailors to quench their competitive thirst, our club races are held from 1:00pm till 4:00pm. Full on water supervision is provided by qualified volunteers using our powered support craft. Volunteers needed!

The Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams will join as one in a series of historic welcome home celebrations every Australian can enjoy. The Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia with the support of state and territory governments are set to host a series of 10 events in cities across the nation.These events provide a great opportunity for Australians young and old to meet the Teams, grab a selfie or an autograph with their heroes and be inspired by hearing stories of the Paris Games directly from our Olympic and Paralympic athletes.The Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams represent the diversity of Australian society with sports that are truly for every Australian. The diversity of Australian sport will be on full display at these welcome home events to inspire the next generation of athletes from across the country.Diversity snapshot of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic TeamsSide by SideAthletesMenWomenIndigenousAverage AgeNo. Sports*Australian Olympic Team4672062611126.533Australian Paralympic Team1609070431.317Combined6272963311527.750%100%47%53%2.4% *Sports Australians competed in at the Paris 2024 Games.Australian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll AM was delighted to bring the two Teams together for one celebration of sporting success and display all the positive opportunities that can be realised through Olympic and Paralympic sport.“Bringing the two champion teams together is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate what is great about sport. These welcome home events will be the first opportunity children and families will have to meet their Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic heroes, and really connect with their athletes.”“The power of sport will be on display, not only inspiring the next generation of Aussie athletes, but demonstrating sport leaves no one behind. Olympic and Paralympic sports offer all Australians the ability to have a go.”“The knock-on effect of greater inclusion in sport will only increase the overwhelmingly positive impact sport has on our society. Greater inclusion means more participation improving general health as well as mental health outcomes, both supporting greater productivity feeding into better economic opportunities for the nation.”“It’s critical at times like these we acknowledge the understated role of sport in the development and health of our community,” said Mr Carroll.  Paralympics Australia Interim Chief Executive Officer Cameron Murray said the welcome home events were a perfect finale to Australia’s Paralympic and Olympic campaigns. “Our athletes have shown the world the best of Australian sport and the best of the Australian character. But so much of what they achieved could not have happened without the backing of millions of Australians, who showed their support in so many different ways. “These welcome home events are a chance for our athletes to say thank you and to bring the message home that great things happen through sport. “Our elite athletes across our Paralympic and Olympic teams have united the nation through their performances, but they’ve also reminded us that all Australians deserve access to sport and the many positive outcomes it delivers, especially for the 20 percent of Australians who live with a disability. “As we move towards the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, this is a message we will continue to explain and amplify, at the same time as strengthening the high-performance pathways necessary to help our Para-athletes reach the top level.”Olympic and Paralympic Teams welcome home celebration scheduleDateEvent NameEvent TimeFri 13 SepNSW Welcome Home CelebrationTumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, Sydney11.15 – Media arrival11:30 – Team arrival12:00-13:30 - Public EventSat 14 SepQLD Welcome Home CelebrationSouth Bank, Brisbane9:00 - Media arrival9.30 – Team procession10:00-12:00 - Public EventSat 14 SepMelbourne Welcome Home CelebrationOlympic Park, Melbourne3:00 - Team arrivals (informal event)3:30 – Media arrival4:00 - 5:00 - Public EventSat 14 SepPerth Welcome Home CelebrationForrest Place, Perth11:30 – Media arrival11:45 - Team arrival12:00-1:30 - Public EventSun 15 SepAdelaide Welcome Home CelebrationRundle Mall11:45 - Media Arrival12:00 – Team Arrival12:30 - 1:30 - Public EventTue 17 SepCanberra Welcome Home CelebrationCommonwealth Park, Canberra (Floriade) Stage 8811.45 – Media arrival12:00 - Team arrivals12:30-14:00 - Public EventTue 17 SepSunshine Coast Welcome Home CelebrationFoundation Square, Sunshine Coast10.15 Media arrival10:30 - Team arrival11:00-13:00 - Public EventSat 21 SepTAS Welcome Home CelebrationRiverbend Park, Launceston10.15 – Media arrival10.30 - Athlete arrival11:00-12:00 - Public EventSun 22 SepGold Coast Welcome Home CelebrationHOTA (Home of the Arts), Surfers Paradise9.00 – Media arrival9.15 – Team arrival9:30-11:00 - Public EventTBCNT Welcome Home CelebrationTBC

 Australian Paralympic athletes Alexa Leary (swimming) and Qian Yang (table tennis) had stirring gold medal victories on Day 7. Leary broke her own world record, while Yang defeated a legend of the game and add to her remarkable success.For full coverage, visit: www.paralympic.org.au/SwimmingJust hours after Alexa Leary broke her own world record in the heats of the women’s 100m freestyle S9 at La Défense Arena she broke it again, this time earning Australia’s third swimming gold medal at Paris 2024. Leary clocked 59.53s, 0.07s faster than her heat time.  “I really just wanted to break the world record – and I did. I did it this morning but tonight was my show,” Leary said.  Among the other highlights was a bronze to Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson in the men’s 50m breaststroke SB2 and a bronze to Ricky Betar in the men’s 200m individual medley SM14 in an Oceania record time.  Table TennisQian Yang successfully defended her Paralympic women’s singles crown with a commanding 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 12-10) win over Poland’s legendary player Natalia Partyka. Yang skipped out to a two-game lead and was always in control of the match, overcoming a small fightback in the second and third, where she entertained the crowd by turning defence into attack. Yang said through an interpreter that her “concentration” got her through, and she was “very happy”. Road Cycling Only 48 hours after winning a gold medal in triathlon, Lauren Parker became the first Australian Paralympic athlete in 44 years to snag a medal in two disciplines at the same Games. Parker’s silver medal in the women’s H1-3 individual time trial headlined a bold opening day of road cycling for Australia with three silvers and two bronze medals safe in their keeping after the action at the velodrome. “It feels so good to walk away with another medal,” Parker said.“I put it all out there on the racecourse. I’m proud of what I’ve done today.” Wheelchair Basketball The Australian Rollers backed up from their quarter finals loss to Great Britain the previous night to score a faith-restoring 78-74 win over Spain in the first of their classification qualifying matches.Bill Latham scored 33 points in the win which leading player Tom O’Neill-Thorne said showed a lot of character.“I think in the past we would have rolled over and lost by 20,” he said. “But we really wanted to show that we’ve got that Aussie never-say-die attitude and we came through and got the win.” BocciaThe Paris Paralympics has come to an end for Daniel Michel and Jamieson Leeson after going down to defending Paralympic champions, Republic of Korea, 4-2 in the quarter finals of the mixed pairs BC3. It was not the fairytale ending the duo were chasing, after making history two days earlier by claiming silver medals in the individual BC3 competition, marking Australia’s best result in Paralympic boccia.  “To take it all the way down to the last ball, you wouldn't want the quarter-final to end any other way,” Michel said. “But we'll take the two silver medals… it has been an amazing couple of weeks for us over here.” AthleticsMali Lovell, 200m bronze medallist, came fifth in the 100m T36 Final, Rosemary Little came sixth in the shot put F32 Final and Luke Bailey had his first Paralympic final experience, in the 100m (T54) wheelchair class.“It’s always been a dream and I started to get nervous as we waited in the call room,” Bailey said.“It’s all worth it to get out in front of this big crowd and hear the cheering engulf you as you come up the straight.” EquestrianBlow-up boxing kangaroos, excited spectators and fellow team members were out in force to support Australian duo Dianne Barnes and Lisa Martin and their respective horses Sorena and Villagio at Chateau de Versailles.Martin and Villagio qualified for the individual freestyle on Saturday.“He [Villagio] is a little bit of an unknown sort, and I didn’t know how he was going to handle it,” Martin said.“I knew he had the quality; I just didn’t know what he was going to do in there. So, to get 70% at a Paralympic Games is fantastic and to have such a young horse do that, is great,” ArcheryTaymon Kenton-Smith earned a spot in the bronze medal match marking Australia’s best performance since Rio in 2016. Renowned for engaging with fans in a way few athletes can, Kenton-Smith’s presence was electrifying, turning heads and winning hearts. His blinding green and gold hair, his signature giant Wedgetail eagle feather hat and his unique style and flair, made him the undisputed star of the day. “I came here to win and, you know, I won the crowd, so that’s definitely something I will never forget,” Kenton-Smith said. 

It’s been a long time coming but on Saturday, 30 August, Kiama RUFC made it to the grand final. They did it in spectacular fashion, beating Campbelltown 26-24, in a nail-biting thriller that’ll be sure to go down in local rugby history.It was the kind of game that’s hard to explain unless you were fortunate enough to experience it first hand. For starters, it was a beautiful, balmy spring day and a huge number of Kiama supporters had made it to the Vikings Rugby Club in Wollongong to watch the first grade battle it out against Campbelltown in a do-or-die semi-final.Campbelltown, as expected, came out hard and fast, taking an early lead.Then around ten minutes into the first half, Kiama’s Atu Taufa was tackled and his head got caught, after which he remained laying on the ground. He had had his shoulder injured the previous weekend.After being assessed, a neck brace was put on and an ambulance called to take him to the hospital. “Taufa was in good spirits throughout,” says Smith.He also sends a special thank you to the nurse from Campbelltown, who quickly came out on the field to help assess Taufa’s condition and who stayed with him and the team until the ambulance arrived.It definitely wasn’t the start that Kiama had hoped for. Yet, returning to the field, the team played like there was no tomorrow and began scoring try after try, creeping closer and closer on the scoreboard. But Campbelltown, a potential final spot in their sights, wasn’t ready to give in and with ten minutes to go, it looked to be a sealed deal.Unless, you asked the Kiama supporters, that is. “Go Ki! One more try!” echoed around the ground. The team heard the call and kept pushing. With around 1:30 minute left of regular time, Kiama scored a try and had a successful conversion. All of a sudden, it was 26-24 to the Cow’s favour. After holding on for the last nerve-wracking minutes of the game, Kiama won and the ground erupted in a sea of black and white – family, friends and fans – all there to celebrate a well-deserved, magnificent and simply put, epic win.“Yeah, good. Hard game. Tough game. But this is what you want, you want these tough games at this time of the year,” says a moved coach James Patrick.“I was just happy we didn’t make any mistakes. We’re right on our line and the boys, I’m just so proud of them. Happy over what they’ve done. We got one more game, and against the best team in the comp. I feel sorry for the Campbelltown guys because it could have gone either way. And again, I’m just proud of our guys that we were on that side of it. We’re not winning these types of games so it’s very satisfying. I love it.”The grand final is on Saturday, 7 September, 3 pm at Collegians sports stadium against Shoalhaven. We can’t wait to see you there.The Kiama second grade fell short against Shoalhaven in their semi-final with 48-26 but congratulations on a great 2024 season!

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