Athletics NSW Club Development Award winner: Athletics Wollongong

19 September 2021

Athletics NSW Club Development Award winner: Athletics Wollongong

Formed over 60 years ago Athletics Wollongong club is one of the strongest clubs in country NSW. Over the last couple of years there has been a noticeable rise in performance from their athletes and their media presence. Like so many clubs they also have a strong band of volunteers supporting the athletes.

In a sign of impressive junior depth, this year 10 Athletics Wollongong members were selected in the Target Talent Program (TTP) - Athletics NSW’s elite junior program, two athletes were selected for the Australian World U20 team. They were particularly very strong in the junior girls ages at the NSW State Championships. One amazing achievement for this country club was they completely dominated the under-16 events at the NSW State Championships with three club members winning eight state titles - Jamaya Wayne, Tayissa Buchanan and Delta Amidzovski.

On the international stage in 2020/21, in addition to the two World U20 selected athletes, former members James Turner won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics.

The club has a high local newspaper and social media profile driven by Dave Ross. Their performances and achievements are frequently promoted to the wider Illawarra community by Ross who also has a local newspaper column. President Michael McClelland has developed an innovative program that connects athletes with one of the biggest local running markets parkrun.

In this club profile, president Michael McClelland guides us through the club’s philosophies and highlights key volunteers in the club from administration to coaches and some leading athletes.

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Athletics NSW: Can you provide a club overview please?

Michael McCelland: We were formed in 1958 as Southern Flame Amateur Athletic Club. Competition was held at Beaton Park which was, at the time, reclaimed industrial land on the edge of the Wollongong CBD. Our forebears carved a track from the rough ground and – 35 years later – were a major part of the team that ultimately delivered the synthetic track. The club’s name was changed to Athletics Wollongong in 2000. Famous past members include Petrina Price, Adrian Hatcher, James Turner and Kerryn McCann, whom the track is now named after.

Athletics NSW: You club philosophies?

Michael McCelland: Our major philosophy is regarding participation. Not only competing at our meets, for example, but preferably contesting all events at those meets. It may be inspiring for a newbie to watch an elite sprinter do their thing in their pet event, but it can just as likely look entirely unobtainable to them. If that same elite sprinter also has a go at shot put though, or even just jogs around the track with friends having a chat in a distance event, then that can set a far more achievable example. One that if the newbie follows, could put them on a pathway where their enjoyment isn’t necessarily predicated by results and which may lead to lifelong participation in our sport. Oftentimes people don’t know which event they’ll enjoy most or be best at, so it’s good that they try them all. This approach has also seen us have good representation in Multi-events.

The next guiding philosophy is semi-related: low barriers. The main thrust of the club are our weekly meets held on Wednesdays from 5:30pm (all welcome). There is a point score to encourage people to come each week, but there’s no pre-entry, no cost beyond track entry, and no need to wear a uniform or bibs. Races are generally self-seeded, so athletes can choose whether to run in their own age, challenge themselves against those at or beyond their current standard, or simply run alongside friends/family. It creates an environment which is very welcoming and encouraging that permeates the rest of the club’s dealings. We have a strong para contingent and I’m convinced that this is the main cause. Those with Community membership get great value from their registration and we hope that their positive experience encourages them to compete elsewhere as they develop.

1645578323. we encourage individual athlete responsibility. We don’t consider our job to herd athletes or chase them up. We inform our members, hopefully in entertaining ways, letting them know the options available and they make the decisions themselves. This may cost us some representation at relays and such, but can create more resilient athletes and true club people. We also have some incredibly talented members, but there are no “stars” in the club. If people seek financial assistance, for example, they need to have helped at a club fundraising event. We hope that this gives an appreciation of where the money comes from and helps develop club spirit.

Athletics NSW: Key club administrators?

Michael McCelland: We’re lucky to have a committee filled with many long-serving members, including Life Members: Barry McClelland, Ron Perry, Ros Perry, Phil Frkovic, Adriana Van Bockel, Peter Kidd and myself. The challenge we are having is encouraging new people to join in as well: some of us little black ducks have become far too adept at looking calm above the water while frantically paddling below! We’re also blessed to have some long-time helpers at our Wednesday meets, including Howard McGarry and Linus Sivills.

Athletics NSW: You have a high profile in local and social media.

Michael McCelland: Another vital cog is Dave Ross, who has been writing a column for 12 years in the local paper. It’s a great platform to showcase our club and athletes to those outside the sport. It’s particularly pleasing to members and their families to see their name in print: that it’s a source we don’t have direct control over seems to amplify their achievements.

Regarding social media, we were an early Facebook adopter and made a conscious decision to have a Group rather than a Page. The latter seemed to dictate down from on high, whereas a Group was more egalitarian: any member can post and that means you don’t have to rely on one person for content, links are more easily forged between members, and so on.

I spend far too much time in front of a computer, and that – along with some long-ago graphic design qualifications – means I create the bulk of the material posted. I try and follow the advice of Richie Benaud: “Remember, above all, you’re a guest in someone’s living room – so try not to irritate them”. Living room or smartphone, I attempt to make the posts eye-catching and interesting wherever possible. Sometimes it’s swing and a miss, but generally it adds to the light-hearted, relaxed and social feel that we go for. Mostly, it’s used as a light to shine on the achievements of our members and, in doing so, it makes them feel recognised and appreciated.

Athletics NSW: In 2020/21 you had been particularly strong in junior events and have always had a large Masters group.

1001. McCelland: Delta Amidzovski is certainly one of the most exciting athletes we’ve ever had associated with the club. To win gold at the 2021 Nationals in the under-16 90m hurdles, 200m hurdles, high jump and long jump was a stunning performance. Her season best 6.25m effort in Long Jump would have also been a qualifier for the U20 World Championships, if only she wasn’t too young for selection.

She’s not on her own though. We’re proud of the 10 representatives we have as part of the Target Talent Program and the over 30 participants at the last National Championships. We also had two athletes selected in the U20 Australian squad (Rosie Tozer – High Jump; Tierney Dunne – 4x100m).

Our medallists at Nationals were:

• Ashleigh Goncalves – 1^st U18 400m, 1^st U18 4x400m
• Charlize Colwell – 1^st U15 Para Ambulant 800m, 2^nd U15 Para Ambulant 400m
• Chelsy Wayne – 1^st U15 Discus
• Delta Amidzovski – 1^st U16 90m Hurdles, 1^st U16 200m Hurdles, 1^st U16 High Jump, 1^st U16 Long Jump, 2^nd – U16 4x100m
• Izzy Hampton – 2^nd Open Para Ambulant Javelin (and Australian F12 record)
• Kailee Moore – 3^rd U18 100m Hurdles
• Mitchell O’Neill – 2^nd Open 4x100m
• Rosie Tozer – 3^rd U20 High Jump
• Tierney Dunne – 1^st U20 4x100m, 2^nd U20 200m, 3^rd U20 100m

Much of our recent success has been in the Junior ages, but in the opens, Mitchell O’Neill has gone from strength-to-strength with a full season of training. He was our first State Open track medallist in many years, going into the 200m final as fastest qualifier and ultimately winning a bronze. This rising form saw him invited to the Track Classics alongside clubmates James McPaul, Susie Seitaridis and Rosie Tozer; again, our highest representation there in quite some time.

We have very strong attendance by Masters at our Wednesday club meets. They’re a very encouraging group and we consequently had a big team of sixteen contesting the State Championships. Christine Shaw, Rebekah Power, Adrian See, Montse Ros, Anthony Howlett, Dave Ross, Will Tyler, Ros Perry, Natalie Heywood and Nicole McHenry all brought home gold.

Athletics NSW: Coaches to develop your athletes?

Michael McCelland: This perhaps would fit under club philosophies also, but the club doesn’t have any set training times or exclusive club coaches. We figure that athletes are ultimately best served by seeking a coach that best suits their own personal circumstances; whose availability, squad make-up, location, personality, and cost, most encourage an athlete to persist in the sport. The connection between coach and athlete is of utmost importance, so we don’t feel it right to divide the limited available pool any further along club lines.

We have coaches who advertise on our website with whom we have close relationships (including Chris Twigg, Phil Frkovic, Tony Saunders, Greg Berrell, Donna Hiscox, Barry McClelland and Brett Barklay) but have access to just as many who either wish to remain staunchly independent or by invitation-only. Some of our athletes are also close enough to Sydney to engage with coaches up there.

I certainly can’t go without mentioning a few others though: Ron Thompson, who is a coaching legend in the region; Peter Lawler - one of the most decorated coaches in the land; and Danielle Szakacs - a coach on the rise with her squad containing multiple State medallists.

Athletics NSW: You have a club competition night too?

Michael McCelland: We have a social weekly competition held each Wednesday at Beaton Park from 5:30pm to around 7-7:30pm. The bulk of the club has at least some participation there during the season, but we understand that people have other commitments so there are no expectations to attend each and every round. For those who can make it, it’s a short, sharp and fun program that breaks up the work or study week. Along with all the regular track and field events, we also hold some handicaps and special themed evenings. We are very grateful for some sponsors who put up some prizes to add interest, including Trueflow Plumbing for The Athletics Wollongong Gift. Peter Gandy is another to support the club through his company Process Integrations. Now a Master, Peter was also with the club in his younger days as an Australian Champion, Moscow Olympics selection and a competitor at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. For the past couple of seasons we’ve been holding the “200m Zoom”, based on Pete’s pet event, and which we’re hoping to expand and open up to larger fields in the future.

Any ANSW competitive member is welcome to attend our meets. You can find the program on the club website (www.aw.org.au). There’s no need to enter online beforehand, just either drop into the track office on the night and show your membership status before competing, or email it to us beforehand (athleticswollongong@gmail.com). There’s no competition fee but participants will have to pay entry to the track at the Beaton Park Leisure Centre front counter.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: A group of Athletics Wollongong athletes at the 2021 Country Championships (courtesy of Michael McCelland)