Victorian Little Athletics Association Inc February 2010, Issue 149 C Locked Bag 1011, Making Tracks Port Melbourne 3207 VIC Ph: 03 9676 3600 Toll Free: 1800689 112 Fax: 03 9676 3601 Email [email protected] Welcome Back Welcome to the first edition of Making Tracks for 2010! We trust you all had a wonderful Christmas & New Year. With one State Championship event down, the year is well and truly under way. We wish all our Centres good luck in the upcoming Region & State Events. 2010 State Multi Event Championships – Bendigo: 30 th & 31 st January 2010 The 2010 State Multi Event Championships were held at the LaTrobe University Athletics Track in Bendigo on the weekend of 30 th & 31 st January 2010 . VLAA would like to sincerely thank all officials who put in a huge amount of work across the weekend to ensure the event was run on schedule. Thanks must go to all athletes, team managers and parents for participating in the event which was held in hot conditions across the two days. Results are now available on the VLAA website, with remaining place cards having now been posted to all Team Managers. Thanks again to all involved in making this another enjoyable State event! U6-8 Multi Clinic - Bendigo As part of the 2010 State Multi Event Championships, U6-8 athletes were invited to register to take part in an hour long U6-8 Multis Clinic held on the back straight of the Bendigo Track. Over 50 young athletes participated in a session full of fun athletics based activities with a selection of coaches on hand. A fun clinic had by all. More photos available under the ‘Photos’ section on the VLAA website: www.vlaa.com.au . Not to be reproduced 1/14 Region & State Track & Field Championships The 2010 State Track & Field Championships are being held Saturday 20 th & Sunday 21 st March at Olympic Park. The 2010 timetable has been published on the VLAA website under Championships/Championship Events/State Track & Field. Region Track & Field Dates & Venues: Eastern Metro – Sat 20 th & Sun 21 st Feb @ Knox Northern Metro – Sat 20 th & Sun 21 st Feb @ Whittlesea City Southern Metro – Sat 20 th & Sun 21 st Feb @ Frankston Western Metro – Sat 20 th & Sun 21 st Feb @ Geelong Gippsland – Sun 21 st Feb @ Moe Northern Country – Sat 13 th & Sun 14 th Feb @ Albury Western Country – Sun 14 th Feb @ Ballarat Wimmera Mallee – Sun 14 th Feb @ Swan Hill Please see your Region for the timetable of Region events. All Region entries have now closed . Please contact your Region if you have any questions regarding the event. 2010 State Cross Country Championships The 2010 State Cross Country Championships will be held on Sunday 1 st August at the Geelong Racecourse. Further information regarding the event will be distributed to all Centres following the completion of the Track & Field season. Additional Ordered T-shirts – State Relays 09 The t-shirts have finally arrived and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. They have been posted on 15 th February. Reconciliation Reminder – Jan A reminder that the January Registration Reconciliation summary sheets are now due. Please ensure that this is submitted direct to [email protected] ASAP. Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator The VLAA office is looking for a Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator to join the VLAA team. A full job description is now available on the VLAA website: www.vlaa.com.au > About Us > Employment Not to be reproduced 2/14 Royal Children’s Hospital – Good Friday Appeal Could all Centres please finalise any funds that have been raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal and forward a cheque payable to VLAA into the office by Monday 22 February 2010 . It is important to finalise these funds ASAP. Thank you to the 16 Centres who have already sent their cheques in. If you have any photos that you wish to be included in Making Tracks/E News, please forward them to Jo Linford – [email protected] . In addition there has been one Centre which has kindly donated $500, however did not let us know which Centre it came from. If you have raised $500 and sent a cheque in, could you please confirm to Jo which Centre you are from. Volunteers Required – Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal On Friday 2 April the Royal Children’s Hospital will be conducting their annual Good Friday Appeal . Working in conjunction with RCH, the VLAA will again host an interactive site at Etihad Stadium and would like the assistance of volunteers on this day. It is a great opportunity for you to do your part at this magnificent day. We would like to hear from anyone who is interested and available. There will be 2 time slots during the day, with us conducting running races, jumping and throwing activities along with the fun stuff of face painting and hair spray. The time slots will be 8.00am – 12.00pm and 11.30am – 3.30pm. Please email Jo Linford ( [email protected] ) the following details and your preferred time slot: Name, Centre, Email Address, Mobile Number (preferred) and time slot preference. The McDonald’s Equipment Grant is Open Again! This time last year Camperdown won $1000 to go towards their new Jump Pit run up. This year it could be your Centre! All you need to do is tell us in 50 words or less - what equipment your Centre requires and how winning the grant will improve your Little Aths Centre. Your poster in regards to this Grant will be available at Region Track and Field. Entry Form & Terms & Conditions can be found on the VLAA website. Willis – 2009-10 Insurance Handbook An electronic version of the Willis Insurance Handbook 2009-10 is now available on the VLAA website: www.vlaa.com.au > Resources. If you would like a hard copy of the handbook please contact your Region. Not to be reproduced 3/14 2010 Weet Bix Kids TRYathlon The 2010 Weet Bix Kids TRYathlon will be held on Sunday 14 th March at Catani Gardens, St Kilda. Event organisers are looking for assistance and need marshals for the event. This is the perfect opportunity to raise funds for your Centre, with each marshal earning you $25. Marshals will be required to sign on at 6am with an approximate finish time of 11am. A light breakfast will be provided. To support this event please contact Tony Mitchelhill as per the attached flyer. Bring a Friend Program The Bring a Friend Program competition will close prior to the State Track & Field Championships where the winner of the Nintendo Wii Sports Pack will be presented. More information on this program & competition can be found on Page 6 . Please ensure all forms are submitted to the VLAA office ASAP. Does your Centre want some more fundraising ideas? The Fundraising Directory is the largest resource for fundraising in Australia, and lists hundreds of fundraising ideas. Booklets available to Centres upon request to: [email protected] . Link to Directory website is listed under the “Centres and Links” section of the VLAA website. IGA’s Little Athletics Docket Competition A reminder to Centres that your September – January monthly summaries should have already been submitted to the VLAA office. Any outstanding summaries, please forward on to ASAP. Fax No. (03) 9676 3601 , E-mail: [email protected] February summary due at the end of this month. This competition will run until April 2010. IGA Officials Prize Draw Congratulations to Matthew Dews of the Warrnambool Centre – December Winner . Matthew’s details have been passed onto IGA to follow up accordingly. Centres are remaindered to keep sending in their IGA draw vouchers. A reminder to Centres that we do not want any dockets to come into the office! CHRISTMAS COLOURING COMPETITION - Winners Congratulations to the following athletes: Jack Nicholls - U10 - Lancefield/ Romsey Daniela Roman - U14 – Werribee Isabella Simonelli - U9 - Lancefield/ Romsey Amy Benifer - U12 – Ringwood These athletes have WON a Little Athletics Prize Pack! Prizes have been posted out to each respective winner. Not to be reproduced 4/14 Caulfield LAC – Facilities to get upgrade! The Glen Eira Council were successful in their application to the State Government for a $500 000 Community Facility Funding for the upgrade to the sports pavilion at Duncan Mackinnon reserve which is home to Caulfield Little Athletics Centre and other local sporting tenants. Four of our athletes were pictured at the announcement with James Merlino State Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, Member for Oakleigh Ann Barker MP and Cr Helen Whiteside. The upgrade will provide our athletes with much more usable and upgraded facilities. Article courtesy of the Glen Eira News - Not to be reproduced 5/14 Mike Kerr – City of Knox “2010 Volunteer of the Year” The most recognised face from the Knox Little Athletics Centre was a nominee at the City of Knox Australia Day Local Awards in the "2010 Volunteer of the Year" category. At the official awards ceremony held on Australia Day – Tuesday 26 th January, Mike Kerr was announced as the winner with his Little Athletics involvement. Mike has been volunteering in a variety of ways for many years at Knox LAC and his volunteer service was recognised with this award. In front of 150 guests including local Federal and State MPs including James Merlino (State Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs), Knox City Mayor, Cr Joe Cossari, Knox City Councillors and Channel 10 weatherman Mike Larkin as guest speaker, Mike was presented with his award by Cr.