The ETU was proud to support the Manly Little League Major baseball team with a community grant of $5000 as they chased their dreams and competed in a national competition – ending up with the gold medal!
An ETU member at Ausgrid for over 19 years, Geoffrey Macpherson started playing baseball with the club in 1986 at just 6 years old and has been involved ever since. Now he coaches the little league team and his son is one of the players.
Recently his son’s team has gone from strength to strength as talented baseball players from across the Northern Beaches were selected to represent Manly at the State Championships—an incredible achievement.
The team was then invited to compete in the Little League National Invitational Tournament, held in July 2026 in Redcliffe, Queensland. The team was the only NSW team representing the state in the competition.
However, attending a national competition comes with some high costs for families including travel and accommodation, equipment, team uniforms and more. Geoffrey applied for the grant to help contribute towards these costs and ensure every selected player could attend, regardless of their financial background.
“Supporting this team is not just about sport—it’s about fostering confidence, resilience, teamwork, and creating lifelong memories for local children. The ETU’s involvement has made a genuine difference,” said Geoffrey.
The competition was fierce but Manly fought hard and won game after game, making it to the grand final! Then after a tough match, the boys succeeded once again, winning the gold medal as the champions of the tournament!
The team shared this message for ETU members:
“A MASSIVE shoutout to ETU for proudly sponsoring our Little League Invitational team!
Your support has helped make this incredible opportunity possible, giving our players the chance to represent Manly on the national stage, compete against some of the strongest players from around Australia, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Community partnerships like this are what keep our game thriving, and we're incredibly proud to have ETU backing our team every step of the way.
We couldn't do it without you!”
For anyone thinking of applying for the community or education grant, Geoffrey says to just go for it.
“It’s so beneficial, all the parents were so thankful and grateful. It’s not a difficult process,” he said.
The ETU is passionate about supporting members and their communities. If you would like to apply for a community grant or education scholarship, please find out more and how to apply here.