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Talent across all fields
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Posted: 21/07/2009
A SOCCER player, hockey player and pipe band drummer are this month's recipients of the Young Achiever Support Scheme (YASS).
Despite their different fields, all three will be heading interstate or overseas to participate in their chosen sport.
Gemma Berto (18) will use her YASS award to aid her in travelling to Mandurah in Western Australia to compete in the Secondary School's State Soccer Championships in August.
At the age of 15, Gemma went to an Australian Institute of Sport tryout where she managed to get into the top 33 without ever having played a game of soccer.
For the past three years, Gemma has played representative soccer with the Victorian Country Championships Seniors' ladies team. In 2008 and 2009, the team was victorious in Mildura and Shepparton. Gemma has also won many best and fairest awards with both the Wanderers and Diamonds' soccer clubs.
Matthew Mann, 17, has drummed his way to Glasgow in Scotland for the RSPBA World Championships, which will be held in August.
The pipe band drummer began learning side drum in 2006, but soon learned his passion was with the tenor drum.
He commenced learning three weeks prior to ANZAC Day in 2007 and marched with the band on ANZAC Day that same year.
Matthew was asked to audition for the Pipe Band Club in Sydney and a unanimous decision by all members of the band gave him a spot in the Pipe Band Club's competition band to play in grade one at the RSPBA World Pipe Band Championships 2009 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Matthew has since been travelling to and from Sydney and Melbourne for rehearsal and practice sessions. In Scotland, he will experience two weeks of six hour practice days and two Scottish competitions prior to the world championships. Amazingly, Matthew fits all this in on top of studying year12 at Wodonga Senior Secondary School.
Hockey star Bradley Newell (16) is the next recipient and he is headed to Rockhampton in August to compete at the Australian Hockey Championships.
He gained selection after a lengthy selection process which started in mid-June with 56 students before a squad of 16 was selected.
He is new to the Border, have moved here from New Zealand two years ago. Hockey is in his family's blood with his father, mother and grandfather all playing hockey.
The YASS is aimed at assisting young people in their pursuits to participate at a state or national level for activities, events or competitions.
