Bargara Little Athletics celebrated 25 golden years with an anniversary reunion dinner at Club Bargara on Saturday.
Founding members and life members Heather Hinsbey (Mulgrew) and Sylvia McNamara, along with Kay Littler (also a life member), were instrumental in organising the event with a small team of helpers.
Secretary Elissa Wyatt said the guest speaker was Australian discus and shot put thrower, and former Bargara Little Athlete Taryn Gollshewsky, who spoke about achieving great things despite living in a regional area.
Taryn still holds the club record for under 11 girls discus, which she set in 2004.
“We had numerous other speakers from the club, past and present, as well as our patron Greg Barnes,” Elissa said.
“The dinner was attended by approximately 50 adults and 10 children — past and present athletes, family, committee and volunteers.
“To celebrate 25 years we also held a multi-event carnival at our grounds on Sunday, 5 May.
“We had about 100 competing athletes from Bargara, West Bundaberg, Isis, Gin Gin, Maryborough, Gympie, Agnes Water/1770 and even a few from Souths and Ipswich clubs in Brisbane.”
Patron Greg Barnes commended the club on its service and success.
“The Bargara Little ‘As’ have struck a milestone in their service to the youth of Bargara and need to be congratulated by the whole community,” he said.
“The number of young members is increasing through the stewardship of the current and previous committees and their role in getting our youth away from their various screens and into some physical activity and fresh air is truly a magnificent achievement.
“Well done to all concerned.”
Bargara Little Athletics history
Bargara Little Athletics was the first Little Athletics Club in the Bundaberg Region.
Back in 1994 they started and ran events on Saturday mornings at Bargara State School.
It was a summer season club and part of the North Coast Wide Bay Zone. In 1995 they moved to the current site at Bargara Sports Complex near Nielson Park.
“We have since changed to the winter season and are part of the Central North Region,” Elissa said.
“Bargara Little Athletics is affiliated with Little Athletics Queensland and now operates on Sunday mornings from March through until the end of September.
“We have over 100 registered athletes including a small group of senior athletes.”
Little Athletics Queensland’s key motto is “Family, Fun and Fitness” and the Bargara group takes pride in offering that to the community.
“While little athletics is all about doing your best and achieving PBs (personal bests) we also have many athletes who have achieved well at state championships over the years,” Elissa said.
Current under 17 athlete Marianna (Mania) Konopka has recently returned from the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney where she was part of the Queensland team that won silver in the under 18 4×400-metre relay.
