Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria has congratulated young Volleyball star Rebecca Ingram on her success.

Maffra Secondary College student, Rebecca Ingram was awarded a Sporting Blue Award at the Victorian School Sports Award on Tuesday, 15 March 2016.

Bec Ingram of Riverslea was recognised for her excellence on the volleyball court and on the beach.

As a superior volleyball player, she was selected for the Gippsland Sports Academy Team and then for the state team. This team has competed at nationals for the past three years, twice winning gold, with Bec being named as captain.

She was invited to attend Australian Volleyball Camp where she was selected in the under 19 Australian team which toured the USA for twenty days, playing Beach Volleyball High Performance tournaments and Indoor Volleyball Championships. She and her Beach Volleyball partner are the top ranked pair in under 17 and she is a member of the top ranked under 17 Indoor Volleyball Team.

Now in their 22^nd year, the Victorian School Sports Awards are the highest sporting accolade in the Victorian government school system.

This year sees the introduction of the Lindsay Gaze Award, in honour of the seven-time Olympian and Basketball Hall of Fame legend. Lindsay Gaze was on hand to give out the inaugural award to Cooper Goodman who demonstrated the most outstanding dedication to both school and community sport.

A total of 47 junior athletes from across Victoria were presented with Sporting Blue medals at this year’s awards ceremony at the MCG, as well as trophy presentations to three schools, two teachers, two volunteers and two outstanding student athletes.

The Andrews Labor Government is committed to building the Education State, and ensuring that every Victorian child gets the chance to succeed – at learning and at life.

This includes meeting the key target of increasing the number of students taking part in physical activity five times a week by 20 per cent over the next decade.

The Victorian Government introduced the $150 million Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund in 2015 so that a child’s background, abilities and postcode will not limit their opportunity for success.

Lindsay Gaze and six other Australian sporting heroes joined Minister for Education James Merlino and students at the awards: Commonwealth Games runner Alex Rowe; Olympic Taekwondo hopeful Carmen Marton; Olympic water polo player Rowena Webster; Paralympic javelin medallist Madeleine Hogan; retired swimming star Nicole Livingstone; and former AFL player Patrick Karnezis.

Quotes attributable to Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria:

“It’s great to see Gippsland’s junior athletes being recognised for their outstanding successes, which are the result of dedication, hard work and support from local clubs and family.

“Congratulations to Bec for achieving so much already – I’m looking forward to seeing her continue to achieve for Gippsland, Victoria and Australia.”