Albion Park Little Athletics Club celebrates 40 years

For four decades, Albion Park Little Athletics Club has been a popular training ground for young athletes, including Olympian Jessica Hull. Now the club is set to mark its 40th anniversary with a party, and an invitation for all ages to join the fun.

Past and present life members will reunite at a celebration at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club in October, with club president Katie Dent saying the aim is to “honour our past, celebrate our present and embrace our future”.

And this year, not only children but parents can hit the track, thanks to a merger in NSW Athletics giving clubs the chance to accept members aged three to 93.

Albion Park Little Athletics is working towards becoming a “One Club” with a new “community membership” now on offer for older athletes.

“It is a family-friendly association,” Katie said. “We have more than a few families who have up to three generations involved at our track on a regular Friday night, so adding community memberships for athletic participation just adds another level of fun for everyone.”

Coaching and Build your Skills sessions are also planned for club meets, Katie said. “The aim is to make Albion Park Little Athletics Association a destination athletes seek for the quality coaching opportunities and their emphasis on building athletes from the grassroots level up.”

Albion Park Little Athletics Club was formed in 1985 to accommodate athletes “living on the western side of the municipality” who were competing at Lake Illawarra Athletics Club. A home ground was established at John O’Dwyer Oval on Croome Road in Albion Park, where the meets are still held each week during the season, which runs from September to March.

The club's many success stories include Olympian Jessica Hull, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 1500m and is also a four-time Australian champion.

Now, with Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympics, Albion Park is joining a nationwide push to encourage young Australians to learn to officiate athletics events in the lead-up to the Games.

Albion Park’s 2025/2026 season will begin on Friday, October 10 at 5.30pm. Free ‘Come and Try’ days will be held at John O’Dwyer Oval on two Sundays, September 14 and 21 at 9.30am.

Contact: info@aplac.org.au, 0421 461 100, albion-park.lansw.org