LOCAL rower Lauren Webber will proudly fly the national flag at the INAS Global Games in Brisbane later this year.
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The teenager, who has grown up in the Upper Hunter, both Muswellbrook and Denman, was recently selected in the Australian team to contest the world-class sporting competition from October 12 to 19.
Conducted once every four years, the Global Games features athletes from more than 75 countries, not only going for gold but vying for the honour of being recognised as the best in their field.
INAS is the acclaimed organisation for sportsmen and women with an intellectual impairment and full member of the International Paralympic Committee.
Following her primary school years at Scone Grammar, Webber attended Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC) in Croydon, Sydney, at the age of 12.
She quickly began rowing for the school in October 2013.
Through five years of competitive competition at PLC, she was taught the sport's craft and, by 2017, won silver at the Sydney International Rowing Regatta in the mixed coxed four.
While still attending PLC, Webber made the transition to Sydney's Balmain Rowing Club to represent the Balmain Para Rowing program.
It was with Balmain that she trained and competed at various Rowing NSW regattas at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, club meetings on the Parramatta River and Indoor Rowing Series events to refine and develop her technical rowing skills in order to gain selection for the INAS Global Games.
"I am thrilled and excited about being selected to represent Australia in Brisbane," the 19-year-old said.
"It is a huge honour."
In May, Webber's hard work was recognised after receiving a 2019 NSW Union of Rowers Award scholarship.
It rewards youngsters who display potential with some financial assistance to help achieve their goals in rowing.
This recognition came off the back of being named in the Australian rowing team to compete in the 2019 INAS Global Games.
Webber, the daughter of Ian and Fiona Webber, will continue her training with the Balmain Rowing Club.
She'll prepare alongside four other athletes from the club's Para Rowing program, who'll make the journey north in October.