Never quit something you love – Meet Tom

Tom lives in a remote part of Gympie, Queensland. He’s had a hard life – with his father battling a severe back injury, his mum must care for his siblings who all live with disabilities. And in 2022, he tragically lost his older brother.

But this has not stopped Tom in his dream to compete in beach volleyball. Despite the odds – and the fact that there are no sand courts in rural Gympie – he has defied expectations as he carves out a future where his dream can become a reality.

Competitive sports require significant funds, especially for kids living remotely. This was a tough prospect for Tom’s family, but when they discovered that Variety could help fund people facing disadvantage, Tom was able to receive a Variety Heart Scholarship.

Tom had been using a worn-out pair of converse shoes. Even after his foot poked through his shoes mid-game, Tom improvised with zip ties to continue playing.

The Variety Heart Scholarship helped Tom with items as simple as a new pair of shoes – while also empowering him to attend open tournaments and play against Olympians. Now equipped with the right gear, he can compete in volleyball alongside his peers.

Tom has gone from strength to strength – winning multiple awards including Gold alongside his partner at the Queensland Beach Tour, and he was named 2023 Senior Sportsman of the Year.

Next up for Tom is to represent Australia at a national level and at the Olympics.

Tom and his family are so grateful for the support of Variety Queensland, with Tom expressing, “I just want to say thank you to all the supporters. I hope I do well and make them just as proud as my family.”

And Tom adds, “Never quit something you love – just find a way to do it.”

Thank you to Tom for sharing his story with us! You can also watch the story on our YouTube channel.