By LUKE VOOGT
OCEAN Grove teenager Ned Weatherly is off to the World under-20 Athletics Championships in Poland thanks to $4050 raised at a local trivia night.
The Voice spoke to Ned on 22 June, as he was about to board a plane to Germany at Sydney Airport.
The Olympic hopeful was raring to compete in the hammer throw in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz.
“I’m a little bit nervous but I’ve been training well so I’m confident,” he said.
“All the signs are looking towards a top three finish.”
Ned and a table of friends joined more than 150 people at the trivia night, which was organised by local Lions and Rotary members.
“I had a great atmosphere,” he said.
“It was great to be surrounded by all these people supporting me.”
Ned’s father William said the trivia night originated from a simple letter he wrote asking the Lions Club for a small contribution.
Instead, the club joined with Rotary and Ocean Grove Bowling Club to raise the full amount required for Ned to compete.
“The money they raised was amazing,” William said.
“We just had to turn up – they took care of everything.”
Ned dreams of one day competing in the Olympics and said he was forever grateful for the local support.
