Joondalup Athletics Centre has been operating since 1992.

 

The following is a summary provided by founding member and secretary David Gardiner at the end of the centre's inaugural season:

​

The 1992/93 season was the inaugural season for the Joondalup Little Athletics Centre. In May 1992 the idea to establish a centre to provide Little Athletics to the children in the Joondalup area was born and fostered by Kim Wood and David Gardiner. the first meeting between Kim Wood and David Gardiner  to commence the planning stage was held on 21st May 1992. During the ensuing weeks there was a weekly meeting to develop and structure the formation of a Little Athletics Centre.

​

The man problem which was faced was locating a ground which was capable of accommodating a full 400m track and the associated field sites. Ocean Reef Senior High School was approached to accommodate a club but this was rejected. An approach was subsequently made to Prendiville Catholic College who agreed that their ground could be used. The Principal, Board and staff of Prendiville Catholic College were very supportive and cooperative, and provided assistance to us.

​

Having completed the planning stage we then entered into the formation stage. To enable the formation of clubs which would form the Joondalup Little Athletics Centre, we gained the support of local schools. Noticed were placed in the following schools for public meetings - Heathridge Primary School, Ocean Reef Primary School, Connolly Primary School, Edgewater Primary School, Quinns Rocks Primary School.

​

Subsequent meetings were arranged an clubs formed as follows:

• Connolly Club was formed on 2 September 1992 when 7 adults attended

• Edgewater Club was formed on 7 September 1992 when 6 adults attended

• Beaumaris Club was formed on 22 September 1992 when 5 adults attended

• Heathridge Club was formed on 14 October 1992 when 10 adults attended

​

The Joondalup Athletics Centre was affiliated with WALAA in August 1992 and the first meeting where the following office bearers were elected:

President - Kim Wood

Secretary - David Gardiner

Treasurer - Liz Whiting

Coaching - Peter Whiting

​

We commenced our first inter-club meet at Prendiville Catholic College on 24 October 1992 where the Centre was officially opened and 98 registered athletes participated in the opening competition.

​

Our first inter-centre meet was at Kingsway Centre on 12 December 1992 where 54 of our registered athletes participated. Our first WALAA event was held at Perry Lakes on 8 November 1992 where we were able to field partial or full teams in every age group except U13 and U15 for both boys and girls. Next was the State Relay Championships where we fielded 10 teams.

​

We were allocated to Zone 3 by WALAA to join Bayswater, Belmont, Inglewood and Midland Centres. The heats and quarter finals of the 1993 State Track and Field Championships were held at the Bayswater Centre. We had 11 girls and 13 boys nominate. If those, the following qualified for the finals of the 1993 State Track and Field Championships which were held at Perry Lakes Stadium on 13/14 March 1993:

​

Adam Burns                                           U8        70m, 100m, long jump

Matthew Burns                                     U10      70m, 100m

Clinton Gardiner                                  U10      70m, 100m, 200m, triple jump

Rebecca Gardiner                               U13      200m, high jump

Erin Groves                                            U10      800m

Jessica Harker                                     U11       400m

Charmaine Marcus-Hanks              U10       100m

Michael McConnell                            U8         70m, 200m, Discus, Javelin

​

A participation certificate was provided to all inaugural registered athletes and to members of the Club Committees and Centre Executive.