Bronze for McQuillan’s side
The Steelers wheelchair rugby side featuring Nanneella’s James McQuillan has claimed the bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympics.
Australia defeated Great Britain 50-48 in the bronze medal match, avenging a loss in the opening group stage match.
The result was a sweet one for the reigning world champion Steelers, who missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Games.
McQuillan, a 0.5 rated player, is part of Australia’s most used line-up for the tournament, alongside Beau Vernon (0.5), Ryley Batt (3.5) and Chris Bond (3.5).
This foursome was the Steelers’ go-to line-up in four of the five games at the Paralympics including the semi-final and final.
Sensory gardens opened
Tongala Primary School officially opened a new sensory garden with a traditional smoking ceremony in late August.
The garden has been an ongoing project for two years, following a Junior Landcare Grant of $5000 in 2022 which helped in funding its completion.
Years 5 and 6 students were involved in the project from the design phase all the way through to construction, participating in the process through their Environmental Studies class.
The garden features a pathway that zips and weaves around tall trees and native Indigenous plant species with laser cutouts of Australian animals on show off the side of the dirt path.
The garden also features a circle space for classes to meet, and a dry creek bed, to add to the “outback” feeling, which principal Mr Hogan pointed out.
Cam coup for Murray Downs
One of the country’s most prominent golfers is on his way to the NSW Open Golf Championships.
Cameron Smith, a former major winner and world number two, has joined the field for the $800,000 championship, which will be held this year at the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club in Swan Hill.
Smith claimed his maiden major in the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews.
He was also one of the more prominent faces to split away from the PGA tour for the Greg Norman headed LIV Golf.
The two brands were initially at odds, with players signed to LIV, including Smith, ineligible for PGA events.
Last year’s NSW Open was held at the Rich River Golf Club in Moama with David Micheluzzi taking the title.
The 2024 iteration of the NSW Open, an event with a history dating back to 1931, will take place from November 14-17.