For the upcoming athlete intake, the academy will conduct programs in basketball, hockey, golf, lawn bowls, netball, athletes with a disability, high performance and officiating.

They will also run a Lone Star squad for talented athletes from other sports.

The inclusion of officiating is an exciting progression as it allows for further development of young officials who display an aptitude for refereeing.

Basketball in particular has a big Bathurst representation in the squad, with Nikki Collins, Bronte Covington, Kahleisha Furner, Bradley Love, Laurence Mifsud and Keelan Crawford all selected - Mifsud as part of the high performance program and Crawford under the athletes with a disability banner.

Hockey also produced a large group, with Mardi and Zoe Watts, Dylan Webber, Luke Thorncraft, Ailie McGarity, Darcy Davis and Kate Brown chosen as part of the squad.

The remainder includes Jarryd Bird, Jane Perfect and Michael Stanford for golf, Nick North (high performance triathlon), Kellie Watson (netball), Rachel Staines (lone star swimming), as well as budding officials Emily Brady, Andrew Brown and Saan Williamson.

The majority of the Bathurst athletes selected will be with the academy for the first time.

“It definitely speaks highly of the quality of talent within the Bathurst area and also of the level of infrastructure at their disposal and the facilities in the town,” WRAS sports development manager Felicity James said.

“All the programs get underway on November 7 with an orientation weekend, except the hockey squad who start training a fortnight earlier.

“From there each group will meet once a month as well as weekly training sessions in their home town.”

Along with the young brigade, five Bathurst figures will be among the coaching staff including Sara Feebrey (assistant coach, hockey), Peter Wright (officiating co-ordinator), Nathan Pearce and Tony Wilds (both assistant coaches in officiating), and Steve Bird as head of strength and conditioning.