RAYMOND Terrace Athletics Centre’s 50th anniversary season is off to a flying start – literally.
The club’s Jubilee campaign is set to take off with a specially approved commemorative group photo with a 77 Squadron F-35A Lightning II supersonic stealth fighter at RAAF Williamtown.
All registered athletes are eligible to attend.
It’s an exciting and historic opportunity for the centre as it celebrates the landmark anniversary.
Long-serving secretary Deidre Hall told News Of The Area that the new athletics season augurs well for the club’s outstanding crop of athletes.
“We have some exciting talent coming through the junior and senior ranks,” Ms Hall said.
“Our club members want to embrace this significant milestone.”
The centre owes its beginnings in 1976 to four RAAF personnel who were posted to No 77 Squadron at Williamtown from Melbourne, where Little Athletics had commenced a few years earlier.
Together with local families, such as David Marsh and Dave Davies, they were among the centre’s founding members.
They adopted the Squadron’s ‘Grumpy Monkey’ logo, which dates back to the Korean War when 77 Squadron served with United Nations forces.
The centre’s connection with the squadron is unique: no other athletics centre in Australia has been known to incorporate a specific military squadron number, badge and colours into its identity.
Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre (RTAC) will also host a 50th Anniversary Pentathlon on October 10, while the Port Hunter Zone Athletics Championships will be contested in November, and a Commemorative Dinner held at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club in December.
Club registrations are still being accepted online or at the centre.
Athletes who wish to attend the RAAF base for the commemorative photo must register no later than Monday, 21 September.
Contact Ms Hall on 0418 962 185.
Further details are available on the centre’s website at raymondterraceathletics.com.au or on Facebook.
By Chris KARAS
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