CHILDREN at Southlakes Athletics Centre went bananas when they learned of the club’s new deal with Coles on Thursday night.
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The supermarket giant has entered into a naming-rights partnership with Athletics Australia and Little Athletics Australia.
The three-year multi million-dollar deal will see Coles support grassroots athletics across the nation.
Coles supermarkets will donate more than 2 million bananas to local athletics clubs around Australia.
The Morisset supermarket delivered its first consignment of bananas to the Southlakes club’s competition night at Neville Thompson Oval, behind Dora Creek Workers Club, on Thursday.
“We’re very happy to be involved, and supporting the children,” Coles Morisset duty manager Reg Pacheco said.
“Fruit is a healthy and natural energy source, and we know the kids here will benefit.”
Mr Pacheco said the community benefited from the work of Little Athletics clubs such as Southlakes.
“They start the kids on the right path here very young, which is really good.”
Little Athletics has been active for 40 years in the Southlakes area.
“We’re one of the smaller clubs, and we typically have about 90 to 100 children each season,” Southlakes Athletics Centre’s publicity officer, Hamish Neal, said.
“There’s a great community feel here, and families make it a very welcoming environment. There’s a nice sense of friendship, and everyone gets on well, and encourages each other.”
The club caters for tots aged from 3½ up to 17-year-olds.
Thursday is competition night, with additional training available at the oval on Mondays under the guidance of club coaches.
Mr Neal said the club produced outstanding results at representative level competition.
“A group of 24 athletes from the club competed at the Lake Macquarie Zone carnival at Hunter Sports Centre in December,” Mr Neal said.
“In a significant result for the club 18 of those competitors qualified for the subsequent regional carnival which will take place at Mingara from February 23 to 25.
“For a club of just 90 to 100 members to get 18 children to the regional championship is a pretty good result, and it’s a testament to the enthusiasm of the parents, coaches and club committee.”
Among the outstanding Southlakes performers at the Hunter Sports Centre meet was Angelique Bailey who broke the Lake Macquarie zone under-11 javelin record twice on the day, he said.
The athletics season runs from September to March, but Southlakes welcomes new members at any time, with a two-week free trial for prospective young athletes.
Visit southlakesathletics.org.au or email southlakesathletics@gmail.com
