By Russell Bennett
It was the dawning of a new era for Berwick Little Athletics at Edwin Flack Reserve on Monday night with the club formerly known as Casey Little Athletics, officially unveiling its new name and logo.
Held at the Berwick Football Club social rooms, the relaunch was held in front of a host of dignitaries including Gembrook MP Brad Battin, City of Casey Edrington Ward councillors Susan Serey and Timothy Jackson, Little Athletics Victoria CEO Anthony McIntosh, and life members of the club.
Berwick Little Athletics president Dan Langelaan said the relaunch was a “significant milestone” in the club’s history.
“We’re very fortunate to have this athletics centre and to be part of it and there’s a lot of people who’ve put in a lot of work to make it what it is,” he said.
“Similar to the City of Casey with their aspirational vision of being the most liveable city, we’re going to be the most family-friendly, encouraging and inclusive sporting club. That’s what we’re trying to do and we’re both aiming high.
“The unique thing about this club is the people who make it up, and that’s been built up over a lot of years.”
Life member and inaugural Casey Little Athletics Centre president Paul Olsson spoke about the club’s history, while committee member, fellow life member and past president Steve Woolfe explained the reasoning behind the name and logo change.
“Probably over the past five years there’s been a lot of confusion, ever since Casey Fields was finished and Cranbourne (Little Athletics) moved into Casey Fields,” he said.
“When they came and started up a centre here (in Berwick) as Casey, Casey Fields was never on the radar.
“People were getting confused with us being called Casey and competing in Berwick, and Cranbourne being called Cranbourne and competing at Casey Fields.”
Cr Serey, the City of Casey Deputy Mayor, was emotional when she spoke about what the club and the precinct at Berwick meant to her and former mentor Mick Morland, who was tragically killed after being hit by a car earlier this year.
“Firstly I just wanted to say that the Little Aths is a wonderful club to encourage young people to do sport and be active, and that’s something that the City of Casey is really encouraging in our young people with 25 per cent of our population under the age of 25,” she said.
“This club wouldn’t be here without the committee, the parents, the volunteers, and that’s something that the City of Casey really wants to thank you for.
“The track was a project in the making when Mick and I first went on council five years ago and it was a no-brainer – it really was – you just needed someone to push it and Mick and I did that.”
