East Derwent Little Athletics Centre is celebrating a milestone year, with membership numbers exceeding expectations, and athletes achieving outstanding results on the track and in the field.

The Centre has officially surpassed 100 registrations this season, a level of participation that was not anticipated so early.

The Centre’s committee has been working tirelessly to ensure equipment and facilities keep pace with the growing participation levels. Fundraising efforts are focused on upgrading essential equipment such as vortex and discuses, and one of the major priorities is the purchase of a portable discus cage.

Fundraising efforts have already seen significant success. The Centre’s annual Christmas raffle proved incredibly popular, raising much of the funding required to purchase the discus cage. The committee extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who sold tickets, purchased a ticket or donated prizes. Special acknowledgement is given to major raffle sponsors Tascon Constructions and SRT Logistics for their generous support.

Another key contributor to the club’s fundraising success has been the weekly meat raffle, proudly sponsored by Tasmanian HiTech Painting. A popular feature within the community, the raffle continues to raise vital funds that directly benefit athletes and the ongoing development of the Centre.

Success has not been limited to fundraising alone, with East Derwent athletes also enjoying strong performances in competition. Two club records have recently been broken, highlighting the talent emerging within the Centre. Zavier, competing in the Under 11s, delivered a massive discus throw of 20.98 metres to set a new club record. Meanwhile, Poppy in the Under 6s broke the 200-metre record with an impressive time of 43.07 seconds.

Looking ahead, many East Derwent athletes are on track to qualify for the upcoming State Individual Championships, scheduled to be held at the Domain over the March long weekend. The Centre is anticipating a strong representation at the event and is proud of the dedication and effort shown by its young competitors.

East Derwent Little Athletics Centre is also reaching out to the community for additional support, with a call-out for a budding photographer to attend a meet and capture images of athletes in action. Anyone interested in assisting is encouraged to get in touch with the Centre.