Having brought family, fun and fitness together for 40 years, Helensburgh Little Athletics Club is fostering friendship with its ''bring a buddy'' campaign.
Club secretary Natalie Baker wants to spread the word among people who have never tried the format, which they can now do free for a fortnight.
“We teach them the skills, and if they come with a friend, you get to hang out with your mates for the afternoon and compete together,” Natalie said.
Since its inception in 1985, the club has welcomed children and their families to the various disciplines of track and field. Weekly meets are held at Rex Jackson Oval on Friday evening from September to March. Natalie’s two sons love to make new friends at Little Athletics and improve their skills in a fun, supportive environment.
“We have great group of kids and parents,'' she said. ''It’s a wonderful relaxed atmosphere on a Friday night. You can give lots of different things a go in Little Athletics and find out what it is that you love to do, the event that you really like.
“You can come and run or you can jump or throw. You’re part of a team but you’re also trying to improve yourself and work on your personal bests, beat your previous weeks times or distances.”
The club welcomes every athlete, from determined competitors to those looking to have fun and get active. Kids can start Little Athletics as young as four, and the club supports members to keep going all the way to 19 or 20 years old.
“My son was just saying that it’s good for people who sign up to do zone, region and state, because you can compete against other clubs and you progress to each carnival. You can put your skills into action at big events,” Natalie says.
Parent volunteers run the club and each family takes on duties for their child’s age group, tracking points and results throughout the season.
"It's very community based, our athletics club,” Natalie says. ''We rely on the parents to help out, whether it’s with set-up, pack-up or being an age coordinator. It's very relaxed and the parents like to hang out and chat too.''
Helensburgh Little Athletics is a not-for-profit organisation, run on limited money from registrations. This year, the club has begun seeking corporate sponsors to help provide resources and support for athletes, and to keep registration costs low.
“Sponsorship will help greatly with buying new equipment and upgrading equipment. When the athletes attend zone, region and state carnivals, we often buy them a gift. So sponsorship this year will help provide that, and things for presentation nights and things like that,” Natalie says.
Zone delegate John Argall is a life member of the club, and won a coach of the year award for the 2024/2025 season.
“Without him the club would still not be running,” Natalie says. ''He does everything he can for the best of the kids at our club.''
John is proud to be part of a club that invests in its equipment and strives to include athletes across the spectrum, including multi-class. He says the club’s support has led to success at state and national championships in athletics and cross-country, and former athletes have competed at an international level.
“Helensburgh Little A’s is a small club in the southern Sydney zone and performs well above its weight,” John says. ''Working with the multi-class and seeing them develop and compete has been amazing.
“The club's DNA is continually evolving with the next generation of athletes, and the parents are the soul of the club and make it all happen.”
Registrations for the upcoming 2025/2026 season are open now. Tiny tots (4 & 5yrs) $110, 6s-18s: $170. Small entry fees for events may apply throughout the season. Follow the club on Facebook.