Woady Yaloak Athletic Club marks its 20th anniversary on Friday.
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The “Haddon Gift” will be a focal point of the celebration at Haddon Recreation Reserve from 4.30pm, when the club will also have its track and field trophy presentation ceremony.
While more than 1000 children have been part of summer track and field, and winter cross country ranks along with their parents, co-ordinator Peter Luke as been the one constant since day one.
A physical education teacher, Luke set up the club and says it is as strong as ever with more than 70 registered competitors.
He said it had been most rewarding over the years to see youngsters get their first taste of structured competitive sport at the Athletics Victoria-affiliated club and go on not only in athletics but in various sporting pursuits.
Luke said while there was no age limit for members, Woady Yaloak had focused on being a specialist in junior development in a family-friendly atmosphere.
He said the club’s success and longevity would not have been possible with the support of many parents over the years.
Luke also pointed to the development of facilities and increase in equipment as helping attract a constant flow of new members and families.
These included the construction of new shared clubrooms overlooking the oval, as well as the refurbishment of the arena surface.
He said attracting local and state government grants had been pivotal in these projects and acquiring new equipment.