Concise History of Waverley Little Athletics Centre Inc.
A look back at our history since 12th November 1968.
If you have any history items, stories, photos, etc... please contact our President Dylan Cooper - president@waverleylac.com.au
Founding Years & Early Structure
Original Club Structure (1968/69)
Waverley Little Athletics Centre (no. 34) was formed on 12th November 1968.
Original Clubs were (based on School or Area):
- Essex Heights
- Glen Heights
- Glen Waverley
- Holy Family
- Mount Waverley
- Panthers
- St. Christophers
- St. Leonards
- Syndal
- Syndal North
- Syndal South
- Waverley North
- 1963/64 Little Athletics began in Geelong, started by Trevor Billingham.
- 1966/67 VLAA was Formed.
- 1968/69 Waverley Little Athletics Centre (no. 34) was formed.
- 1970/71 Athletes must pay a fee of 10 cents per attendance to Club Managers.
- 1972/73 Syndal South Club becomes Syndal South/Bayview.
- 1975/76 Syndal South/Bayview Club fold/leaves and Notting Hill Club (Blue & White Club Uniform) joins WLAC.
- 1988/89 Centre structure was re-organized. Clubs were dissolved & 4 Teams were introduced, based on the local area: Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Panthers, Syndal/Notting Hill.
- 1993/94 25th Season Anniversary. Centre Computer was purchased to simplify workload for Team Managers. Teams were re-structured so they didn't relate to the residential area of the athletes. The Teams became: Panthers - Red T-shirt, Leopards - Blue T-shirt, Tigers - Gold T-shirt, Jaguars - White T-shirt.
Modern Era Highlights & Achievements
Key Achievements & Events
- 2003/04: VLAA Top Centre of the Year
- 2004/05: City of Monash Club of the Year 2004
- 2008/09: Victorian Smartplay Sport Safety Champion Awards Champion Club
- 2009/10: VLAA Top Centre - Merit Award
- 2010/11: Central Reserve Athletics Track - Re-seeded to summer drought tolerant grass. Waverley LAC competes with Springvale LAC from Jan–March 2011 due to track Re-seeding.
- 2011/12: Renamed from Waverley Little Athletics Centre to Little Athletics Waverley to align with the state and national bodies. 306 Registration for T&F Season. Southern Metropolitan Region Bronze Top Centre Award 2011/12.
- 2012/13: Youngest President in Waverley History! Ex Waverley Athlete Dylan Cooper elected President at just 19 years old. Host Centre for SMR U6 to U8 Carnival. Host Centre for Introduction to Coaching Course & ON TRACK Course. 369 Registrations for T&F Season. Southern Metropolitan Region Bronze Top Centre Award 2012/13.
- 2019/20: Season ends early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LAVic AGM and Conference held online.
VLAA/LAVic AGM Representatives
List of Centre Representatives attending VLAA/LAVic Annual General Meetings.
- 1975/76: John Trainor & Bruce Reynolds (Sale)
- 1976/77: Bruce Reynolds & Tony McMahon (Ararat)
- 1977/78: Tony McMahon & Jack Rigby (Shepparton)
- 1978/79: Jack Rigby & Daryl Thiele (Hamilton)
- 1979/80: Jack Rigby & Daryl Thiele (Marysville)
- 1980/81: Jack Rigby & Daryl Thiele (Echuca)
- 1981/82: Daryl Thiele & Anne Rennie (Horsham)
- 1982/83: Daryl Thiele & Anne Rennie (Bairnsdale)
- 1983/84: Daryl Thiele & Anne Rennie (Ballarat)
- 1984/85: Daryl Thiele (Warrnambool)
- 1985/86: Anne Rennie & Bob Rennie (Shepparton)
- 1986/87: Halls Gap
- 1987/88: Portland
- 1988/89: Len Crossley & Mal Walker (Rye)
- 1989/90: Mal Walker & Barry Cole (Echuca)
- 1990/91: Mal Walker & Michael Fagan (Ararat)
- 1991/92: Mal Walker (Sale)
- 1992/93: Mal Walker & Marie Williams (Wangaratta)
- 1993/94: Barry Cole & Russell Bath (Warrnambool)
- 1994/95: Barry Cole & Anne Cole (Corio)
- 1995/96: Charlotte Robinson & Mark Robinson (Portland)
- 1996/97: Charlotte Robinson & Tony Correll (Albury)
- 1997/98: Charlotte Robinson & Tony Correll (Sale)
- 1998/99: Ken Knight & Charlotte Robinson (Ararat)
- 1999/00: Ken Knight & Alison Knight (Bendigo)
- 2000/01: Ed Chinery (Mildura)
- 2001/02: Ed Chinery (Wangaratta)
- 2002/03: Steven Lopes & Ken Knight (Geelong)
- 2003/04: Steven Lopes & Dave Bullen (Traralgon)
- 2004/05: Lindsay Harrison & Matt Sturgess (Barooga)
- 2005/06: Lindsay Harrison (Horsham)
- 2006/07: Matt Sturgess (Mulwala)
- 2007/08: Darrin Stephens (Preston)
- 2008/09: Darrin Stephens, Tammy Stephens & Lindsay Harrison (Cheltenham)
- 2009/10: Darrin Stephens & Tammy Stephens (Preston)
- 2010/11: Lindsay Harrison, Maryanne Harrison (observer) & Dylan Cooper (Shepparton)
- 2011/12: Dylan Cooper, Mark Cosham & Andrew Hird (obs) (Sandown)
- 2012/13: Dylan Cooper & Mark Cosham (Bendigo)
- 2013/14: Dylan Cooper & Mark Cosham (Melbourne (Albert Park))
- 2014/15: Mark Cosham & Darren Watts (Bendigo)
- 2015/16: Darren Watts & Dylan Cooper (Melbourne (Albert Park))
- 2016/17: Katy Smith (Healesville)
- 2017/18: Katy Smith (LAVic SGM, Geelong)
- 2018/19: Katy Smith (Preston)
- 2019/20: Katy Smith (Online)
Original Club Uniform Colors (1972/73)
| Club Name | Club T-shirt Colors |
|---|---|
| Essex Heights | Royal blue with gold hoops |
| Glen Heights | Brown |
| Glen Waverley | Orange |
| Holy Family | Purple |
| Mount Waverley | Maroon |
| Panthers | Red |
| St. Christophers | Sky Blue |
| St. Leonards | Gold |
| Syndal | Navy Blue |
| Syndal North | Emerald Green |
| Syndal South/Bayview | Light Green |
| Waverley North | White with red W.N |