Wantirna Little Athletics Club

Welcome to the new season and welcome to our new and returning families.

It has been interesting start to the season. Given the early start, it has been a bit wet and cold, but as we head into October the weather will improve and hopefully feel more like summer athletics.

While the last few seasons have been Covid effected and we have had late starts in November due to lockdowns and resctictions, this season the Centre decided to start early due to the proposed track up grades. This will allow our athletes to complete most of the season at Knox before the track works begin. We are waiting for further information from the Knox LAC Executive Committee on the proposed works and this will be conveyed to families once council finalises the works and provides an update on timings to the Centre.

A couple of things for October.

Relay season starts. If you are interested please see the Knox LAC website for information on relays. This is great part of the season and Knox has a strong history of competing at relays.

You can get more information here: http://klac23.org.au/wordpress/?p=13426

Please contact the appropriate age group coach listed on the Knox Relay Flyer.

Relay training will start over the next week or so as coaches plan their training schedules.

Registration is now open for the State Combined Event on the 12 and 13 November 2022 – You can get more information on State Combined at the LAVic Website here: https://lavic.com.au/event/22-23-state-combined-events-championships/

Please note: Some age groups have already reached their capacity.

If you are looking for the upcoming competition program you can visit the Knox LAC Calendar here: http://klac23.org.au/wordpress/?page_id=23

Some Competition Reminders.

Just a reminder to all athletes. The Wantirna singlet must be worn when competing at Knox weekly competition. Your name patch must also be worn. If you do forget your patch (or you have lost it) you can get a new one from the Registrar for a gold coin donation.

Parents, please stay out of the competition areas. If you are a parent of U6 and U7 you are welcome to escort your child to events, but please move away from the event while the children are competing. This is important if you are at Mini Olympics area of the track. This helps our chiefs and also maintains your safety. If the chief asks for assistance you are more than welcome to assist.

If you are on duty, please arrive early to sign in. If you arrive early you will get the better duties, and it also assists the chiefs in setting up and makes the day run much more smoothly. Just remember that this season is a rotation of events for clubs, so people are still learning and getting used to events. Keep an eye out for the duty requirements from our Duty Coordinator. If you have specific dates you cant do duty (such as holidays etc) please let our duty roster coordinator know.

Final Words

Most of all we want the athletes to have fun and enjoy themselves competing at Knox. As summer approaches please ensure hats and sunscreen are worn, and your children drink plenty of water.

I hope you all have enjoyed the start of the season, and there still plenty of the season left to invite friends and family to come and try athletics and join Wantirna.

Stay Healthy, Stay Safe and see you at the track.

David Kearsley
Wantirna LAC President

Are you a parent that likes to help out at athletics. Wantirna LAC is looking for for more Chief Officials this season.

Wantirna is now responsible for Discus/Shotput and Long Jump, Discus and Shotput at Mini Olympics (U6 and U7 Athletes).

Being a chief at events is a rewarding role, easy to do and means you will only need to Chief once every 3 weeks. Training is provided by Knox LAC – Chiefs Officials training day this season is 3 September 2022. If you are interested in stepping up into a Chief role please contact Janine our team manager. Please note you will need a working with children check.

Little Athletics does not run without its parent volunteers and ensure that our athletes have a successful experience at athletics.

Wantirna LAC is pleased to announce that Summer Track and Field is back for season 2022-23.

Registrations are now open!

If you have been a past member of Wantirna, you will have been sent an email from LAVic inviting you to register for athletics this season.

Note this season U17’s have been added. If you were an U16 athlete last season you are welcome to continue your athletics with Wantirna and compete at Knox in U17.

If you are new to athletics and want to trial, you can register for a two week trial via the LAVic website. https://lavic.com.au/membership/new-member/trial-athlete-offer/
Choose Knox as your centre, and complete the registration. You will be sen information pack and you can start your trial from week 1 on 10 September 2022.

If you already know you want to join for the season you can register directly via LAVic website here – https://memberdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=login&OrgID=1370
Choose Knox as the centre and Wantirna as your club then follow the directions to register.

The season at Knox starts on 10 September 2022 – while this is earlier than previous seasons the Knox Executive Committee has announced upgrades to the track and want to ensure that as much athletics is conducted at Knox before the works begin.

Please note: Knox LA Centre and Wanitrna LAC do not take registrations directly. Registration must be completed via the LAVic website and athletes must be financial before competing.

Training
Preseason training at Knox has begun. Athletes are welcome to join training session. However please check with Coaches before attending. Information on coaching can be found at the Knox LAC website.

Register today and don’t miss out on the start of the Season!

As we come to the end of the season, well done to all of the Wantirna athletes that have competed this season, at our weekly comps, open days, Regionals and at State Camps. It was great to see a number of Wantirna Athletes make it through to State Champs and represent Knox.

Knox Championship Day

This Saturday, 2 April, is the Knox Championship Day and for those that registered, good luck. This is the last track and field event for the season and marks then end of what has been a great season and and interesting one still dealing with covid issues.
The timetable of events and the duty roster will be out in a day or so. Knox will post this directly on the Knox LAC website and Facebook.

Presentation Night and AGM.

A reminder to all families that Sunday 3rd is our presentation night and AGM. It is an important night and sets the club up for the future.

Location: St. Luke’s Primary School Stokes Rd, Wantirna.
Time: 5pm – 7:30pm

The agenda for the evening will be:

5:15pm:  Annual General Meeting
5:45pm: Dinner
6:15: Presentations and trophies.

The Club will provide dinner (pizzas) drinks and desserts.  A $15 contribution per family on the night would be appreciated if possible.  Bank deposit details will be available on the night if this is your preferred option.

The committee also asks that you consider assisting the club next season as either a Chief Official or a committee member.  Chief Officials are a really important role and one that every club must provide each week (events rotate next year…stay tuned for our allocation!). Full training and uniform are provided and this counts as your duty.  Ideally we would have enough Chief Officials that each family would only need to do it every 3-4 weeks.  Please help us out!

If you haven’t already done so please RSVP your attendance and dietary requirements to Leanne Hawke (tamira05@bigpond.net.au or 0418 477 002) by Tuesday 29th March 2022.
We look forward to seeing all athletes and families there!

See you at the track

David Kearsley | Wantirna President

The season is proposed to start on 6 November 2021.

With the restrictions hopefully easing from October 26, the season is now proposed to start on November 6.

The Knox LAC Committee has confirmed the season season calendar for the season.

Key dates:
October 26 – Monday and Wednesday training session due to start
November 6 – Week 1 – Program A and Opening Ceremony
You can download the full season calendar from the Knox LAC website here

Registration – New Members Welcome

If you are a current family you will have received an email from LAVic inviting you to renew your membership. Please follow the instructions in the email. Please register early for season and don’t leave it to the last minute.

New Families and Athletes

If you are new to our club and athletics then you can do two things. You can register with LAVic and trial Little Aths for two weeks, or if you know you want to commit to the season you can complete the full registration via the LAVic web site.

To access the registration portal click on the link below

https://memberdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=login&OrgID=1370

Go to the portal using the link above, click on new member, choose Knox as your centre and then choose Wantirna as your club. You can then follow the prompts.

Proof of age will need to be provided at the first meet you attend. The Centre will have a registration table set up that you can seek further information on registration at the the Try Out days in September.

Please note all registration fees are paid online via the portal. We do not collect registration fees in person at the track.

With the 2021-22 season almost upon us Wantirna LAC is please to announce that the season is now proposed start on 6 November 2021.

With the restrictions hopefully easing from October 26, we are please to announce that our season is now proposed to start on November 6. This will be dependent on Covid restrictions in place.

The Knox Committee has set the following preliminary dates for the start of season:

August 14 – 2021 -22 Season Registration Portal Opens
October 26 – Monday and Wednesday training session due to start
November 6 – Week 1 – Program A and Opening Ceremony

Registration

If you are a current family you will have received an email from LAVic inviting you to renew your membership. Please follow the instructions in the email. Please register early for season and don’t leave it to the last minute.

New Families and Athletes

If you are new to our club and athletics then you can do two things. You can register with LAVic and trial Little Aths for two weeks, or if you know you want to commit to the season you can complete the full registration via the LAVic web site.

To access the registration portal click on the link below

https://memberdesq.sportstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=login&OrgID=1370

Go to the portal using the link above, click on new member, choose Knox as your centre and then choose Wantirna as your club. You can then follow the prompts.

Proof of age will need to be provided at the first meet you attend. The Centre will have a registration table set up that you can seek further information on registration at the the Try Out days in September.

Please note all registration fees are paid online via the portal. We do not collect registration fees in person at the track.

New registered members receive a discount on club uniform singlet, which is purchased directly through the club.

Kyle Swan, former Wantirna LAC Athlete is competing today at 2020 Olympics Tokyo in Mens 20Km walk.

If you want to watch or the race starts at 4.30pm Tokyo time (5.30pm Melbourne time)

About Kyle

As a junior Kyle Swan was a regular on the national team, representing Australian on an impressive four occasions as a teenager.

Growing up in the Melbourne suburb of Wantirna, Kyle Swan first started in athletics aged six years.

“My brother had started Little Athletics a few years prior, so I figured that if I had to go and watch for hours, I may as well join in myself! I found I had an affinity for the longer distance events (the 800m walk was the longest on offer at that age) and soon started training with my first coach Fran Attard”.

He made his junior international debut aged 16 at the 2015 World Youth (U18) Championships. His last two performances as a teenager in 2018, were of the highest quality. In the junior event at the World Race Walking Cup in China, he was the first Aussie across the line in 10th place and helped Australia to bronze in the team event. Two months later he travelled to Finland to compete in the World U20 Championships where he placed an outstanding sixth 41:24.12. (https://www.olympics.com.au/olympians/kyle-swan)

The club committee and all our members wish Kyle the best for the race today.