Aths club celebrates with familiar faces

DESPITE the rainy weather, Woady Yaloack Athletics Club held a barbecue last Friday to celebrate twenty-five years.

Peter Luke, an Athletics Australia coach and official, founded the club in 1997 and is still a committee member.

His children were attending the Haddon Primary School when he said he decided it was a great opportunity to take on.

“Back in those days most of our members came from the primary school,” he said.

“I am just so happy that I’ve got support from parents and families and it’s a great relationship.”

Luke said there’s been many changes over the years, particularly regarding club buildings.

“We have had a lot of changes in our facilities with new club rooms and a new development on the oval which has enabled us to have events like hurdles,” he said. “The condition of the oval is fantastic now.

“It’s great to see the developments that have occurred, we’ve had members go on and play AFL and other sports at a very high level.”

Reflecting on his time, Luke said he has loved the last 25 years.

“I have always been passionate about offering opportunities to children and I just like seeing them take on these opportunities and getting benefits out of them,” he said.

“It doesn’t seem like 25 years, and it’s a celebration because the club has been going for a long time and we’ve had a lot of families who have been with us over many years.”