Albion Park Little Athletics Club wants to honour two of its founding figures. Photo: Facebook.
Albion Park Little Athletics Club is looking to mark its 40th anniversary by honouring two of its founding figures, Ian Hatfield and Richard “Rick” Watkins, after putting forward a proposal to name the stands at John O’Dwyer Oval at Croome Road Sporting Complex after them.
Club president Katie Dent presented a compelling case to Shellharbour City Council prior to its recent general meeting, highlighting the extraordinary contributions of the two men, with councillors supporting the proposal to go on public exhibition.
Katie said Ian Hatfield, the club’s founding president, had an impressive 35-year tenure with Shellharbour Council, was treasurer of Shellharbour Meals on Wheels and had coached numerous athletes who had gone on to national prominence, including Olympic and professional athletes.
“As a founding president of Albion Park Little Athletics, he has stayed very connected with our club and he’s currently very involved in helping organise our 40th anniversary,” she said.
“It would be a lovely accolade to honour his presence.
“He’s still coaching. He just received an Australian athletics coaching award last year.
“He’s coached some of the most amazing athletes to green and gold – Casey Eastham is a hockey player, Luke Wilkshire, Sally Fitzgibbons and Ryan Gregson.”
Katie said Richard Watkins, a Royal Australian Navy veteran, had dedicated 30 years to coaching and mentoring young athletes in the Shellharbour region, with his coaching legacy including supporting Delta Amadovski, a rising star in world athletics.
“It’s lovely for us to be able to have our young athletes be inspired by athletes that have been coached by Rick and Ian,” she said.
“He’s (Rick) often giving freely his time, experience and encouragement to the generations of young people of Albion Park and the Shellharbour area.
“He often ran programs through the primary schools and high schools for athletes who were completely new to athletics.”
Katie said Rick’s late wife often remarked that “Rick spent more time at the oval than at home, a testament to the deep connection he has with this special place and its people”.
She said both were instrumental in helping organise the 40th anniversary event and she hoped to officially recognise the two men during celebrations in October.
Councillor Kellie Marsh praised both men, highlighting their decades of commitment.
“I’ve known Rick and his late wife for many years, and to say that Rick goes above and beyond for community, not just in Little Athletics, but in many other capacities as well, words can’t express how much he’s actually given to Shellharbour,” Cr Marsh said.
She said as founders of the club, they had showed up week in and week out for decades for the club.
“We wouldn’t have Albion Park Little Athletics Club today, and all these wonderful people and stars who have come through the club, if it wasn’t for these gentlemen,” she said.
Shellharbour councillors unanimously supported the proposal, which will now go on public exhibition for 28 days.
