Club History:

Little Athletics is a family orientated sport where children/athletes from 5-17 yrs of age compete in the sport of Track and Field – Athletics at a local club level throughout the summer season.

Maleny Little Athletics Centre is affiliated with Queensland Little Athletics Association under the umbrella of the Australian Little Athletics Association and is part of the Suncoast Region which extends to Gympie, Kingaroy, Deception Bay and Wamuran.

Maleny Little Athletics Centre began in 1984 at the Witta Sports Grounds, moving into town in the later 1980’s to the Maleny Primary School. The Centre then moved to Maleny High School in 2000 to be able to use a full 400m track and expand its storage facilities. Registered athletes fluctuate between 40 – 90 athletes per season depending on whether it is an Olympic year or not.

Events include Sprints (70m –200m), Hurdles (60mH – 200mH), Long Distance (400m, 800m, 1500m), Race Walking, Jumps (Long, Triple, High Jump-scissors and flop), Throws (Shot Putt, Discus, Javelin). Athletes compete in 5 different events each week.

Maleny Little Athletics Centre is the provider of accredited athletics coaches on the Sunshine Coast for the Australian Sports Commission – Active After Schools Communities Program working in primary schools throughout the hinterland.

Maleny Little Athletics also provides a program called the CAPS Scheme – the Challenge, Achievement, and Pathways in Sport Scheme, as a leadership development programme for young people from 14 – 20 years of age. It rewards participants for their contribution to a sport, not just for “playing the game”.

Little Athletics hopes and aims to lift the profile of Athletics in our community. It encourages young people and their families to get active and be involved in a sport that is already here and attaining some outstanding achievements by its members.

Maleny Little Athletics celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a function at Maleny High School Activity Centre in Saturday 31st March, 2012.

Special guests included Tony Northey (State President – Little Athletics Queensland) and his wife Penney; Alison Quirke (past State President - Queensland Little Athletics and Life Member Little Athletics Australia); Brian Butter filed (Australian sprint champion 1953-1059) and his wife Joyce; Andrew Powell (member for Glasshouse); Rob Outridge (Maleny SUPA IGA); Mike Norman (president Maleny District Sports and Recreation Club) and his wife Barb.

Guest speakers were Sally (Lyons) McDonough (first Maleny Athlete of the Year 1986/87), Tony Yorkston, Mia Schaumberg, Bruce Bates (Dalby), and Len and Mary Kerle (Beerwah).

90 plus people/attendees, past and present families athletes attend for activities, a profile of the facilities and a celebration dinner.

Many thanks to sponsors and supporters for assistance to table the event and donation towards the multi-draw raffle prizes.