POLITICS
Mark Hodges MP
MEMBER FOR CASTLE HILL
AS YOUR STATE MP , I AM HERE TO :
• Help you with any State Government matters .
• Assist in accessing NSW Government services , assistance or grants .
• Provide Justice of the Peace services .
• Arrange congratulatory messages .
02 9686 3110 castlehill @ parliament . nsw . gov . au Suite 1A , 19-21 Terminus Street , Castle Hill NSW 2154
Authorised by Mark Hodges MP , Suite 1A , 19-21 Terminus Street , Castle Hill NSW 2154 . Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements .
Stronger Together Foundation with Mark Hodges MP
On 12 June 2024 , the Stronger Together Foundation hosted the official opening of their new premises in Castle Hill . The organisation was formerly Fit Kidz Foundation , and the opening provided the chance to launch the new name of the Stronger Together Foundation .
Stronger Together Foundation offers support and services for local children who have developmental delays , disabilities , or are neurodivergent , as well as offering support and services for their families and the wider community .
These vital services include group therapy , parent connection groups , individual therapy offered in the community , sibling programs , hosting family events , hosting an annual conference for parents and carers , and providing a roaming sensory breakout tent for community events .
The new Stronger Together Foundation premises will enable the organisation to expand and provide more support to this significantly vulnerable group of children and families in our communities .
The CEO of the foundation , Ellen Witzlsperger , is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist . She has over 16 years ’ experience in the sector and was awarded 2024 Citizen of the Year for the Hills Shire Council .
It was great to see the local Hills Shire Council Mayor and Councillors , as well as members from the local community attending to support this wonderful foundation .
My heartfelt congratulations to Ellen Witzlsperger and all those who made the dream of the new premises a reality including Melissa Scaife , the Co-founder and owner of Fit Kidz Early Learning Centres , and Ramsay Zreikat , the current Director .
The official opening of Stronger Together Foundation in Castle Hill .
Celebrating the local sporting champions in our Hills community
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with Julian Leeser MP
If you ’ re a family with a child who is a gifted sportsperson , it can be a great joy . However , I know that it can also place a great financial strain on your family , especially when they are called upon to represent their club , state , or country at major competitions .
One of the great grant programs that I always encourage people to apply for is the Local Sporting Champions . It ’ s an opportunity for families to secure some funding to help manage the costs of going to interstate and overseas sporting competitions .
We need to encourage the next generation of sports stars to pursue their dreams and develop their skills through
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competition . Developing a competitive ethos in young people makes Australia stronger in the future .
I was delighted recently to provide grants from the Local Sporting Champions program to several students in the Hills . It was a great pleasure to have many of those students and their families join me recently for a presentation afternoon where we celebrated their great achievements .
I want to take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge :
Hayley Schultz , Megan Chia , Leaneaka Bugeja , Angus Wilson , Madeleine Wilson , Elodie Sebire , and Gabriella McBrien , who each swam at the 2024 Australian Age & Multi-Class Age Championships ;
Emma Cherry and George Abbott , who
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Julian Leeser MP with some local champions .
both swam at the 2024 Australian Open Water Championships ;
Vera Gerasimova who competed in synchronised swimming at the Australian Artistic Swimming Championship ;
Jaiden Yu and Sophie Polkinghorne who competed at the Australian Junior
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Athletics Championships ; and Aaron Xu , who competed in Judo at the Teplice Cadet European Cup 2024 .
If you ’ re interested in applying for a local sporting champions grant in the future , please contact my office by emailing Julian . Leeser . MP @ aph . gov . au .
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THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 109 // JULY 2024 21