Yarrawonga/Mulwala Little Athletics secretary Bec Coll, president Dario Prighel, Little Athletics Australia’s Nana Owusa, CEO of Coles Little Athletics Australia Myles Foreman, Little Athletics Ambassador & Coordinator Tanielle Crase, Moira Shire Administrator John Tanner, and Coles Wangaratta representatives Danielle Whitehead and Ella Mitchell at the presentation.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The national hierarchy of Little Athletics Australia was at Yarrawonga/Mulwala Little Athletics Centre on Monday, September 25 for two big announcements then conducted “the best clinic ever”.
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Our centre was presented with the winning Coles Little Athletics Australia Centre of the Year Award-Inner Regional Category.
Holding the award…Yarrawonga/Mulwala Little Athletics President Dario Prighel with two Australian champion athletes in Tanielle Crase and Nana Owusa.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The prestigious award was for promoting a supportive culture, encouraging athletes by awarding medals for personal bests and developing leadership by tasking older athletes with starting meetings and running exercises.
“Yarrawonga Mulwala is the one in over 500 centres in Australia to win this award,” Little Athletics Ambassador & Coordinator Tanielle Crase told local officials, little athletes and parents.
“I want to thank everyone involved and especially to you guys coming every week and helping Yarrawonga/Mulwala to achieve this recognition which is so well deserved.”
Yarrawonga/Mulwala Little Athletics Committee members and some of the young athletes.
To the local athletes, the Commonwealth Games and Australian champion representative in the seven-event heptathlon, Tenielle added: “Thank your parents for getting you here and I thank all the committee members.”
Little Athletics Victoria Development Officer Rob Belli told the Yarrawonga Chronicle to be selected as the top in almost 100 Victorian Little Athletic Centres then to win against the other states and territories is “a fantastic achievement for a relatively small community”.
Coles Wangaratta representatives Danielle Whitehead and Ella Mitchell with Yarrawonga/Mulwala Little Athletics President Dario Prighel and secretary Bec Coll.
“Melbourne centres have got all the bells and whistles and the Yarrawonga/Mulwala committee has done some fabulous things and keeps families involved – we love the community culture.”
Great support also from Coles
A second special action at the award presentation occurred when Coles’ representatives presented a cheque for $2,500 to Yarrawonga/Mulwala Little Athletics Centre.
Coles Store Support Manager Wangaratta Danielle Whitehead and staff member Ella Mitchell said Coles is a strong supporter of Little Athletics Australia and were proud to present a cheque of $2,500 to Yarrawonga/Mulwala Little Athletics Centre.
“Coles is extremely passionate about helping Australians live happier, healthier lives and supporting the community,” Danielle said.
“Since 2017 Coles has donated more than 3.9 million bananas to little athletics centres. We have donated a box of bananas today for the kids to enjoy tonight.
“We have also provided centres with more than 2.4 million in sports equipment grants through the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund and Yarrawonga Mulwala Little Athletics club received a grant in 2021. We hope that the scissor mat you purchased is put to good use tonight.
“We would like to congratulate the Yarrawonga Mulwala Little Athletics and particularly the committee for being awarded the 2022/23 Coles Athletics Centre of the Year. What the committee and the parents do each week to help kids lead happy, healthy lives is amazing. Keep up the great work and we would like to present you with a cheque for $2500 and your Athletics centre of the year sign.”
Yarrawonga Mulwala Little Athletics President Dario Prighel thanked Little Athletics Australia, Little Athletics Victoria and Coles representatives for making the trip to Yarrawonga to make the face-to-face presentation at the Gilmore Street located-centre and for selecting Yarrawonga/Mulwala. “Number One in over 500 – not very good odds, is it!” he said.
Mr Prighel said the award is not just due to the current committee. “The efforts of past committee members including the Duffy, Vodusek and Skehan families should always be remembered,” he said.
“This club was struggling four or five years ago with less than 50 young athletes. We’ve had as many as 150 and we were back to just over 100 last year.
“We have a very good committee. We do rely on parents to help. The more we can get the better.”
Moira Shire Administrator John Tanner described the award as “a fantastic outcome for the community”. “Congratulations to all involved,” he said. “To have the recognition is justly deserved for all the effort put in.”
Following the formal part of proceedings, Little Athletics conducted a clinic from 4.00pm to 7.00pm with Tanielle, national champion runner Nana Owusa and Rob Belli putting on “the best ever clinic in Yarrawonga” according to the local president.
“Their program included how to high jump, long jump, running style and discus throwing for about 60 kids. It went for hours - twice as long as we do and we received wonderful feedback.”
Mr Prighel marvelled at the professionalism of the nation’s brilliant athletes in conducting the three-hour clinic and how they are so superbly fit.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Little Athletics Centre was announced as the Inner Regional Category on April 25 at the Coles Little Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony.
The visit to Yarrawonga for the actual presentation and the subsequent clinic were greatly appreciated by the athletics centre personnel.
