Siblings and former Black Sticks Brooke Neal and Shay Neal, pictured ahead of the 2016 Olympics, were Kauri Club recipients. Photo / NZME
Siblings and former Black Sticks Brooke Neal and Shay Neal, pictured ahead of the 2016 Olympics, were Kauri Club recipients. Photo / NZME
A Northland scholarship is celebrating 25 years of helping young athletes achieve their dreams.
The Kauri Club was established in 2000 by Sport Northland and thanks to a generous donation by the family of local and legendary sporting figure, the late Garry Frew.
The scholarship provides financial support to promisingathletes, aged 16 to 20. It originally began as a membership-based club but has evolved into a standalone scholarship fund.
Some of the athletes supported have gone on to represent New Zealand at Olympic Games, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, world championships and other prestigious competitions.
Eleven athletes from eight sports are the latest to benefit from the Kauri Club’s help. They are:
Anna Barradell – Rowing
Caleb Yeates – Hockey
Corban Thorpe – Archery
Denika Clooney – Athletics (Cross Country and Track)
Dovey Mabey – Rowing
Ella Howie – Gymnastics
Jessica Kalkhoven – Gymnastics
Paryse Croft – Volleyball
Renee Pilon – Gymnastics
Toby Jackson – Alpine Skiing
Zac Laing – Squash
Their achievements already include transtasman championships, national titles and international representation.
James Morris, who has served on the Kauri Club panel since its beginning, called 25 years a “real milestone”.
" ... It’s been a privilege and a pleasure for me over those years to see hundreds of Northland’s committed and talented young athletes utilise this funding in pursuit of their sport goals," he said.
Morris praised Northland for punching above its weight as a sporting province.
“ ... I’m sure there will be many more youngsters gaining positive life skills through the Kauri Club Scholarship Programme to become future mentors in their communities,” he said.
The Kauri Club vows to remain steady in its mission: to honour Frew’s vision by investing in Northland’s future champions.
Garry Frew, MBE.
Frew, who died in 2000, was the Northern Advocate’s former sports editor. Furthermore, he was a New Zealand table tennis representative at 17, touring with the national team to Scotland and China in 1961, during which he became the Scottish singles champion. He held his place in the New Zealand team for many years.
His table tennis career included a hatful of national titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, and many Northland titles.
Frew was also one of the best tennis players in the region and played premier grade club cricket and senior club rugby.
In 1965, he was named Northland sportsman of the year. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sport in 1992.
Frew was said to be a passionate advocate for junior athletes and those in lesser-known sports, while ensuring rural sportspeople were never overlooked.
