Yaru launches indigenous youth sports grant
The Yaru Foundation is excited to announce the first of its annual sports grants that will be awarded to a young Indigenous person in the Northern Rivers region each year. The full title of the grant is The Yaru Foundation – Northern Rivers Regional Youth Indigenous Sports Grant.
Meet Cedar, our first recipient of the grant. In 2022, Cedar’s family home was devastated by the floods in the region, and despite this, she has continued to strive forward and demonstrate nothing but grit and determination in the sports she loves.
Cedar’s achievements over the past few years are extensive. She’s been in the Ballina Netball representative team since 2020, competing in the NSW State Titles, and also representing the North Coast Academy of Sport in 2022. She is an avid and talented water polo player and represents the Alstonville Juniors; awarded the MVP (most valuable player) consecutively over the past three years. Such are her water polo skills, that she was selected to compete with the senior women’s team in Lennox Head, becoming the highest goal scorer on the team, and representing Alstonville in the NSW Country State Junior Titles. To add to this list, Cedar also played for the Ballina Bombers AFL team in 2021/22 and is a member of the All Girls Surfriders.
The aim of the grant is to support young Indigenous people in the region to pursue their sporting goals without the often financial barriers that young people face, leading to young sporting leaders, and better health outcomes for all, as they inspire their peers and those around them. Congratulations to Cedar and we look forward to following her sporting journey in 2023.