Once again Kiama Little Athletics has had a record breaking season!! Registrations were up significantly and club competition was keenly contested with U/11 athlete, Larni Cowgill, scoring a convincing win in our major award, the Dean Blair Memorial Trophy.
At the annual LAANSW conference in July, we were presented with a GOLD award for efficient volunteer administration of the Centre by our Committee. This was an improvement on the SILVER and BRONZE awards we had received in the previous two season. Only 6 Centres out of 200+ were presented with a GOLD level award, an outstanding acheivement for a non-metropolitan Centre and something the members of the Committee should feel extremely proud of!! In September we saw 248 athletes register with the Centre, eclipsing last years record of 231 to become the highest number of registered athletes in the 29 year history of the club.
On the track, Kiama had another outstanding season. Our athletes competed in the local Grand Prix carnivals, Zone Championships, Regional Championships, State Championships, State Cross Country & Roadwalks, State Multi Event, the Australian Athletics Cup and the ALA National Championships. From these carnivals, we saw three athletes medal in the Grand Prix, one athlete win their age group at the State Multi Event, twenty five athletes at compete at Zone, twenty three athletes qualify for Region and twelve athletes qualify for State. Of those twelve, several finished in the "top 10" and two of them won medals, including Kiama's first ever GOLD in State Championship Track & Field competition. Congratulations must go out to all athletes for their sportsmanship and exemplary behaviour at all club competition and carnivals throughout the season.
Kiama Little A's retained it's "Level 0" accreditation by the Australian Drug Foundation for it's "Good Sports Program", after becoming the first sporting body in NSW to acheive this level of accreditation in early 2007. Our club Coach, Don Hodgekiss ("Mr H" to the kids), was awarded as the 2007-08 Little Athletics "Coach of the Year".
On a disappointing note, we suffered from a number of vandal attacks on our facilities and equipment.
At the closing of the season we usually bid farewell to our U/15 athletes, but with the rumoured introduction of a combined U/16-17 age group at Championship level next season, there has been some uncertainty as to whether this season will be our 15's last?? Talissa Scott, Courtney Moon and Ellara Rannie had a combined total of 17 years in Little Athletics between them and were outstanding role models for the younger athletes in our club. Talissa started Little Athletics way back in 1996, first joining Kiama for the 2004-05 season. By contrast, Courtney and Ellara's involvement with Kiama has been short and sweet. Courtney joined Kiama as an U/13 back in 2005 with Ellara joining in 2006. During that time, Talissa and Courtney have both been Zone, Regional and State Reps for the Centre with Talissa also having been a representative for two LAANSW State teams. Ellara on the other hand, enjoyed just participating at club level.
The AGM saw some changes to the Committee for the 2008-09 season and the new executive will be determined to continue the fantastic work of their predecessors. The outgoing volunteers step down with the Centre in great shape both on and off the track and should be congratulated for their efforts. Kiama Little Athletics once again received fantastic support from it's sponsors, AllClear Leafguard & Gutter, Veolia Water Australia, Kiama Downs Pharmacy, Khan's SupaIGA Gerringong, Beth Moon Community Consulting, Bevans Real Estate Gerringong and Demoforce. We thank them for their generosity and continued involvement with our Centre.
Last but not least, a big thank you goes out to all the parent volunteers who gave up their time to help make this season such a success. Without you, our club could not function. We trust that you and your children enjoyed last season and sincerely hope to see you all back again next September for the 2008-09 season. |
