Providing scholarships for young emerging athletes from the Central Coast region, The Donnica Clarke Foundation were thrilled to announce the 2021 Scholarship recipients at their annual announcement evening at Mingara Recreation Club, at the end of March. In attendance along with other sponsors was local leading Physiotherapy practice, Physio Connex Performance Clinic who is proud to continue to be a supportive partner to help young athletes fulfil their sporting dreams.
The Donnica Clarke Foundation was established in 2007 to keep the memory of the bubbly and multi-talented teenager at the forefront of community minds. Donnica, or ‘Nica’ as she was affectionately known, was a dual Australian Surf Life Saving beach sprint and flags champion who died in a tragic accident in 2007. For 2021, the Donnica Clarke Foundation welcomed nine new athletes to the family along with nine returning athletes, which brought the collective total to 94 athletes from 31 sports receiving a total of 180 scholarships valued at $275,000 since the Foundation’s inception.
Class of 2021
#64 Fletcher Armstrong – Kayaking supported by Eagles
#73 Sam Hughes – Water Polo supported by Robson Civil Projects
#75 Kallan Strong – Tenpin Bowling supported by Michael Murphy
#77 Katie Gunn – Athletics supported by B&K Landscapes
#78 Tyler Gunn – Athletics supported by B&K Landscapes
#79 Aspen Henderson – Water Polo supported by AJC Plumbing
#81 Lachlan McLeod – Water Polo supported by Eagles
#82 Daniel McLoughlin – Swimming supported by Mingara
#85 Emelyn Wheeler – Surf Life Saving supported by Robson Civil Projects
#86 Nick De Vivo – Tennis supported by Robson Civil Projects
#87 Ryan Green – Surf Life Saving supported by Eagles
#88 Jessica Hunter – Volleyball supported by Commwerx
#89 Jessica Jeong – Tennis supported by EEA Earthmoving
#90 Jocelyn Kelleher – NRLW supported by Eagles
#91 Bethany Kranendonk – Athletics supported by Solution Plant Hire
#92 Haley Prince – Gymnastics supported by AJC Plumbing
#93 Luke Stimson – Water Polo supported by Club Terrigal
#94 Stella Norris – Triathlon supported by Sport Central Coast
Principal Physiotherapist and owner of Physio Connex Performance Clinic, Melinda Dennis is particularly passionate about supporting the Donnica Clarke Foundation. “Donnica was a young, multi-talented athlete from the Central Coast whose future no doubt would have continued to see national and international accolades against her name. We want to support and nurture the young talent we come across at our clinic who are on a similar path”’ explains Dennis. “We are a niche sport-based practice, with staff who also grew up on the Central Coast playing sport, therefore it is a huge passion of ours to provide these athletes with as much opportunity as possible to be the best athletes they can be”.
Located at Unit 1, 25 Amsterdam Circuit, North Wyong (Wadalba) in a state of the art facility with full scale rehabilitation gym on site, Physio Connex Performance Clinic is known as a preferred clinic for local athletes. The team of highly experienced and skilled physios, exercise physiologists and strength and conditioning experts use the latest techniques, technology and equipment combined with evidence-based practice to best serve the Central Coast community. They currently look after sports coverage for a number of local sporting clubs including Wyong Roos Rugby League Club, Doyalson Dragons Touch, Central Coast Roosters, Central Coast United and more.
Physio Connex Performance Clinic support Donnica Clarke Foundation scholarship recipients with discounted access to physiotherapy treatment and Strength and Conditioning assessment and programming. By supporting local athletes on the Central Coast, the team is helping local sporting stars and everyday individuals to achieve optimum performance in sport and in life.
