About Us
Oakleigh Little Athletics Centre
The Oakleigh Little Athletics Centre has a rich history and can boast some international success too. Since its inception in 1967, the club has produced some real stars including Margaret Satupai. In the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons, Margaret set the Oakleigh club records in the U14 and U15 girls’ category in both shot put and discus. She went on to represent Oakleigh and Victoria at state and national levels; she has set Australian records and competed in the World Youth Games and Commonwealth Games, representing her native Samoa. We can even also lay claim to famous race walker Simon Baker, an Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medalist (Edinburgh 1986). Simon was running around the Oakleigh track when “it was just a dustbowl.” Simon still lives in the area and sometimes pops in.
Currently the centre operates with about 130 athletes each season, so we are not a big club by any stretch of the imagination. But, we have been smaller and we nearly disappeared altogether in the not so distant past. Happily, these days we are stable and growing once more although we pride ourselves on the community, family atmosphere that is rather unique to our small club.
We are a centre whose values are those promoted by the Little Athletics organisation - family fun and fitness. Most of our athletes go to the same local schools, kinder, Aus Kick centres, daycare centres, dance schools, swim schools etc. As a result, a lot of our families know each other from these other places because we are part of the local community. We have many really talented kids in our midst that are here to enjoy the events and do their best. It’s wonderful to see them all develop and grow over the years.
Our centre is very much focused on participation and this extends to the parents too. As a purely volunteer organisation, it’s all hands on deck every week to muck and do your bit because without the adults to guide the children around and to man the events, we just can’t run!
What is Little Athletics?
Little Athletics is a nationwide organisation geared to making athletic activity available to children from the ages of five to seventeen. From an early age, children are encouraged to participate in a number of track and field events with a focus not on winning but on achieving their own personal best results. With a season that runs from September through to March, Little Athletics provides children with a weekly opportunity to make friends and have fun whilst remaining active and healthy. For the older children, it’s an opportunity to discover their personal preferences and strengths and maybe go on to greater things. As such, it’s incredible value for money.
Little Athletics Australia (LAA) is the governing body for the individual state organisations. Oakleigh is part of Little Athletics Victoria (LAVic) whose domain is segmented into seven regions. Here at Oakleigh we join with 15 other centres to form the Southern Metro Region (SMR). So when you hear talk of national, state or regional events, that’s how it’s broken down.
Little Athletics is grateful for the support shown by its Partners and equipment supplies - details of which can be found here.
Oakleigh Committee
The centre’s constitution specifies that we have the committee positions as shown below. Some committee members cover several roles but we are always happy to share the load and welcome new helpers. Note that everyone on the committee is required to hold a Working With Children Check (WWCC), and this can be applied for at any time and there is no cost.
Executive Committee
The executive committee carries the main responsibility for running the club. As the individuals with financial accountability, executive members are required to undergo a police check. In order to maintain continuity, executive positions are held for two years with the President and Registrar elected in years that alternate with the election of the Treasurer and Secretary.
PRESIDENT - Nick Kostic
SECRETARY - Santhini Barratt
TREASURER - Simone Lichtenstein
CENTRE REGISTRAR - Damia Monteriso
General Committee
TEAM MANAGER / HEAD COACH - Lexie Seward
ARENA ANNOUNCER - Noel Seward
PROGRAM & COMPETITION MANAGER - Nick Kostic
XC & RUNNING COACH - Panny Ng
GRANTS OFFICER - Joanne O'Donnell
EQUIPMENT MANAGER - Peter Holden
UNIFORM COORDINATOR - Oksana Thompson
RELAY COORDINATOR - VACANT
CROSS COUNTRY COORDINATOR - Brenton McRae
SOCIAL MEDIA / COMMUNICATIONS - Santhini
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER / IT OFFICER - Matt Wagner
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER / STARTER - Alistair Govier-Cole
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER / ON TRACK CO-ORDINATOR - Terry Tzouramanis
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER - Andrew Allan
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER - Lin McLeod
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER - Alina Kurales
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER - Tatiana Zakurdaeva
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER - Kathy Tzouramanis
Meetings are held at Davies Reserve Pavilion generally on third Monday of every month from 7.30pm during the season (September-March). Teams online link to attend meeting is available upon request. All General Members are welcome to attend. Items for agenda can be emailed to Secretary at oakleigh@lavic.com.au. If you are wanting to get involved with our Centre at a committee level, please reach out to our Secretary or President. We welcome new committee members at any time.