By Ron Lane
Twenty- five years is a long time between drinks and that is exactly what it was for Noosa’s Little Athletics.
On Friday evening at approximately 5.30pm some two hundred plus parents, supporters and officials gathered at Noosa’s Girraween Sporting Complex to celebrate Little Athletics twenty five years of coaching, and competition for the young and very young of the Noosa community; and what a great job they have done.
Once again the quite achievers on our Noosa Community have combined to create yet another success story; stories that on so many occasions have gone unheralded.
In a warm welcome Centre Manager Kerin Hagicostis thanked Councillor Joe Jurisevic for attending. She then went on to thank all concerned for their loyalty, hard work and dedication.
“It is all these things that combined to make the club so successful,’’ she said.
Another to address the guests and parents was a former Centre Manager, Ian Smith.
Ian spoke of the club starting in a small shed over in Tewantin; then after many years of hard work moving to the present grounds. He also spoke of the journey that many athletes took, moving up through the ranks from little athletes to senior grade; also the dedicated ones, who moved out of their comfort zone into the cutthroat world of State and National competition.
Life Member and Coach Mick Hooper also acknowledged the many workers. Then, as head coach he drew attention to the success many athletes have achieved competing at State National and International level.
“Regarding this, the club members have won a total of 65 medals at National level with seven of them winning Australian titles and seven competing overseas.”
Perhaps his most poignant acknowledgment came when he spoke of the important contribution made by the families within the club. “They are,” he said, “what it is all about.”
He also took the opportunity to bring to the crowd’s attention to the recent success of two senior Noosa athletes, Summer Johnson and Zane Branco.
Summer aged 19, has this year represented Australia at the Oceania Games in Fiji where she won a silver medal in the 100 metre hurdles and gold in the 4×100 metre relay.
As of now Summer will be competing in the Open age group and at international level.
Competing in Townsville at the North Queensland Championships, Zane caused a sensation. Running as an 18-year-old in the Open Division of the 200 metres. He equalled the Australian record of 20.9sec for the Under 18 divison.
The record which was set some 35 years back was equalled for the first time eighteen years ago and now in 2017 Zane, has equalled it; this being only the second time it has been done in the history of the event. A truly remarkable effort. Sadly the achievement of these outstanding athletes has gone virtually unnoticed.
However once again the annual Noosa Gift is about to be run at the Girraween Sporting Complex. With athletes coming from all over the country this is without a doubt one of the best events in Australia. It will be held 25 November and remember it is one of the best; definitely not to be missed.
